Remembering Dr. King unites community

The success of Hoffman Estates' Martin Luther King Jr. community breakfast provides compelling evidence to organizers of why the village's cultural awareness commission is essential.

"We get such a good response from the community; everyone looks forward to it. It makes it worthwhile," Pearl Henderson, head of the commission, said.

"Of course, honoring Dr. King is the first motivator."

The event is held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which falls on the third Monday of January. The federal holiday was first celebrated in 1986, in hopes of celebrating the slain civil rights leader's birthday, which is Jan. 15. He was assassinated April 4, 1968.

The Rev. Clyde Brooks will speak, and the sounds of the Sears Holdings Gospel Choir will again fill the room.

The breakfast returns to Hoffman Estates for its sixth year with a few changes. The program will take place at the Poplar Creek Country Club instead of village hall, due to the latter place undergoing renovations.

Because the country club isn't village-owned, that also prevents the Hoffman Estates firefighters from serving and preparing the food -- which was event tradition, Henderson said. The country club will instead cater breakfast.

"We looked at the park district, but they didn't have a room large enough," Henderson said. She expects about 180 people to attend, which is up from 150 three years ago.

Henderson said she's given a budget of about $2,000 for the event, and because of this year's changes, she's been forced to stretch those dollars further. Henderson already has started planning for next year's event, which coincides with the village's 50th anniversary. She wants to pull out all the stops next year.

Though holding it on a weekend could encourage youngsters to attend, Henderson said she feels strongly about holding the breakfast on the holiday, or on King's birthday.

Henderson has helped coordinate the event over the last three years as the head of the committee, whose other events include the village's Unity Day, which gives residents a chance to hear music and see traditional dances from all over the world.

"We try to get everyone to participate," she said.

If you go

What: Sixth annual Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast

When: 8 a.m. Jan. 21

Where: Poplar Creek Country Club, 1400 Poplar Creek Drive

Cost: Free, and seating is very limited

Reservations: Due by Wednesday; limit of four people per reservation

Call: (847) 781-2606