Pastor Ronald L. Owens and the New Bethel A.M.E. Church will host the 10th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major Award Celebration on Monday, Jan. 17, at 2 p.m. The theme for this year’s celebration is, “Reflections of the Dream: Making Justice a Reality for All.” The keynote speaker for this celebration will be the Reverend Dr. John F. Green, the President/Dean of Turner Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA. The Drum Major Award will be presented to Georgia State Senator Gloria Butler for her dedication and commitment to serving Dekalb County for over a decade. The Community Service Award will be presented to Glen and Valerie Morgan, Publishers of “On Common Ground News” for their dedication in sharing community and national news to the Greater Dekalb community for over 15 years. The New Bethel Pillar of Strength awardees are Mr. Willie Bob and Mrs. Frances Livsey for their over many years of service to the New Bethel Church. The guest choir is the renowned Lou Walker Senior Choir from the Lou Walker Senior Center in Lithonia. www.newbethelame.org
Author-journalist Rebecca Burns focuses on Southern history and the intersection of race, religion and politics at SCAD’s Ivy Hall Writers Series on Thursday, Jan. 20, 6:30 p.m. Formerly editor-in-chief of Atlanta magazine, Burns is the author of “Rage in the Gate City: The Story of the 1906 Atlanta Race Riot, a finalist for the 2007 Georgia Author of the Year awards. She wrote the Atlanta edition in the Yesterday & Today” book series, and is a frequent speaker at colleges and community organizations. Burns will discuss her most recent book, “Burial for a King: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Funeral and the Week that Transformed Atlanta and Rocked the Nation,” published by Scribner in January 2011. The lecture is free and open to the public. A book signing is available with the purchase of a book. Ivy Hall is at 179 Ponce de Leon Ave. www.artofrestoration.org