Swannanoa Valley Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Gathering to embrace ‘Building the Beloved Community’

Annual assembly to feature Dr. Irene Owens at St. James Episcopal Church

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
January 29, 2025

The Swannanoa Valley Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Gathering will return, Feb. 8, for its 35th year. The event, which helps raise money to fund scholarships for students in the Owen District, will feature a keynote address by Dr. Irene Owens. Photo by Fred McCormick

An annual effort to promote and preserve the legacy of an American icon will return for its 35th year, at 9 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 8, as the Swannanoa Valley Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Gathering convenes at St. James Episcopal Church. 

The event, organized by the Swannanoa Valley Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Corp., will present a theme of “Building the Beloved Community,” with a keynote address from Dr. Irene Owens and presentation of college scholarships. 

The prayer gathering, established in 1991 by then Black Mountain Mayor Carl Bartlett and longtime community volunteer Lib Harper, who passed away in 2009, celebrates and recognizes King’s birthday. The fundraiser supports the nonprofit organization that has provided hundreds of scholarships for Swannanoa Valley public school students of all backgrounds.

An anonymous donation of $50,000 to the SVMLK Memorial Corp. in 2022 funded the establishment of the Say Their Names Scholarship, an additional sponsorship for Black students in the Owen District. 

The organization, with the support of local businesses and individuals, awarded $5,000 to Owen graduate Maurice Borkay last year. Seven former Owen District students received scholarship renewals and four members of the school’s class of 2024 were granted new scholarships.

“We raised $16,000 for local students last year, right here in the Swannanoa Valley,” SVMLK Memoria Corp. board chair Shelia Showers said. “We look for need and, of course, academic standard. We want to know the student is going to be a good investment, if they are applying themselves and have they been an asset to the community.”

The keynote address will be delivered by the former dean and professor at N.C. Central University School of Library and Information Sciences and first African American to receive tenure in the same program at University of Texas at Austin. Prior to her retirement in 2016, Dr. Owens earned the Howard University Outstanding Service Award, the University of Texas Excellence in Teaching Award, the UNC Distinguished Alumni Award, the NCLA Library Education Award, the Demco/BCALA Award for Excellence in Librarianship and the National Council of Negro Women Award for Distinguished Professional Achievements.

The gathering’s theme, selected by the board of 11 volunteers, reflects the spirit of King’s refusal “to accept the view that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality,” which he addressed while accepting the Nobel Peace Prize Prize in 1964.

“Looking at that quote, we see ‘Building the Beloved Community’ as one way to follow that vision,” Showers said. “It’s important to ask what you’re doing for your beloved community, and if you’re not doing anything, then what can you do?”

The message is particularly poignant in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, she added.

“We’ve all had to come together for that, and now kids are back in school and many of them need our help,” Showers said. “Some of them need the support now more than ever.”

In response to the natural disaster, organizers are opening the prayer gathering to the public at no charge while not seeking sponsorships from area businesses. A booth will be positioned at the entrance oft he event for anyone interested in supporting the SVMLK Memorial Corp.

“We chose not to seek out local businesses for advertising opportunities this year, and instead focus on donations,” Showers said. “We invite everyone to come to the gathering, and if you choose to donate, then please do.”

A community choir of approximately 40 members representing nine Swannanoa Valley churches will be led by Mills Chapel Baptist Church Deacon Bobby Stafford, while Aaron Price performs a rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

“We look forward to celebrating the legacy of Dr. King with the community while doing what we can to help local students,” Showers said. “It’s our hope that this gathering will bring people together around an important cause an allow them to energize each other.”