Among the tributes to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the 12th annual Prayer Breakfast in his honor Jan. 16 was that of the keynote speaker, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who told his audience of the many ways in which Dr. King influenced his life.

The mayor, a child of a working single mother, was educated in Catholic elementary and high schools and, through affirmative action, was accepted into UCLA --- an accomplishment he says he owes to Dr. King. His climb to Speaker of the State Assembly and, more recently, as Los Angeles' first Latino mayor in 133 years was the result of his upbringing and education.

Alluding to an era before the influence of Dr. King, Mayor Villaraigosa said that because of King, he was able to enter "in the back door and come out the front door. America is a better place, a freer place."

Sponsored by the African American Catholic Center for Evangelization, the Prayer Breakfast, held at Verbum Dei High School, opened with St. Brigid Parish's African Drum Ministry and a rousing rendition of James Weldon Johnson's anthem "Life Every Voice and Sing" sung by CARE.

Our Lady of the Angels Region Auxiliary Bishop Edward Clark blessed the breakfast and event, and former Vicar for the African American community, Divine Word Father Fisher Robinson, introduced the mistress of ceremonies, Kellie Hawkins, daughter of Deacon Bill Hawkins and an associate in Mayor Villaraigosa's office.

A near capacity crowd of approximately 800 participated in the celebration, which included tributes to Dr. King and civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks, who died in 2005. Students from Transfiguration School and St. Mary's Academy mimed a dramatization and danced in Parks' honor.

The breakfast was started to commemorate the work of Dr. King on behalf of the African American community, explained Anderson Shaw, director of the African American Catholic Center for Evangelization, a sponsor of the event. The community was proud, he added, "to be able to show off the unity that we have in this great city."

"As Catholics," said Shaw, "we appreciate the effort that he made and his religious contribution and so we're here today just to celebrate his life and to remind those in attendance that we're left to carry on where he left off."

---Sister Nancy Munro, CSJ