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Attorney Daniel Donnelly gave the keynote speech, "Remembering Dr. King," at the annual Martin Luther King Celebration Monday. He spoke primarily about his work as an immigration lawyer. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

Albert Lea Mayor Rich Murray gave the welcome at the annual Martin Luther King Celebration Monday at Riverland. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

Rosa Corey-Gruenes was one of two recipients of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Award. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

Vivian Nguyen was one of two recipients of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Award. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

Live music was provided by the band Eighth Hour during the social time at the annual Martin Luther King Celebration Monday. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

By Ayanna Eckblad

Riverland Community College on Monday hosted the 37th annual Martin Luther King Celebration organized by the Peace and Justice — MLK Committee. 

The event featured a social time with refreshments followed by a program with music, speeches and presenting scholarships to local students. 

The program began with a welcome by Albert Lea Mayor Rich Murray. He told the story of how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had visited Mankato in 1961. Murray posed the question of whether Dr. King would be happy with what he saw if he were to visit Albert Lea today. He encouraged those gathered to show kindness, welcome others and be a good example for the community. 

This year, two Albert Lea High School students received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Award. Mary Hinnenkamp, a member of the Peace and Justice Committee, presented the scholarships to the two graduating seniors, Rosa Corey-Gruenes and Vivian Nguyen. 

In a short speech, Corey-Gruenes shared her experience as a certified nursing assistant and how it has opened her eyes to the various needs and disparities there are in the health care system. She said she plans to continue her education to become a nurse and work to promote better policies in health care. 

Nguyen talked about her experience in martial arts and how it taught her about discipline, integrity and respect. She said she recently got the opportunity to teach a martial arts class and learned about the importance of being inclusive and equitable to her students, who come from various backgrounds and skill levels. 

Members of the ALHS clarinet choir, Ruby Mykkanen, Ingrid Peralta Linares, Maxx Richards, Evelyn Holcomb, Kuol Dual, Rice Boettcher and Gaby Tufte, performed “Eine Klin Nachtmusik” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. 

The keynote speech for the program was given by Daniel Donnelly, an immigration attorney in Austin. Donnelly explained that he first learned about justice and equity during the farm crisis. He spoke about the importance of showing people love rather than hate. 

“Hate doesn’t make you feel good in your heart. It may momentarily get you going and make you feel good because you can stomp down on someone who’s smaller than you, someone who doesn’t look like you, but at the end of the day it’s not the answer. Martin Luther King knew that wasn’t the answer.”

Donnelly explained the rewarding nature of his work as an immigration lawyer, primarily in the form of seeing the children of his clients grow up, graduate and become active members of the community. 

He also said there is a negative side to his work as well as setbacks. 

“I never thought I’d see a time when billionaires are emulated, and migrant women are the enemy, but here we are,” he said.

As a young lawyer, Donnelly said, he thought he could change the world. He learned over time that changing the world involves small steps and everyone has the potential for positive change. 

“Every one of you here has the opportunity to change the world … but it doesn’t happen overnight. Every day is a battle,” he said. “I don’t expect us all to do something big.”

Donnelly closed his speech by encouraging those in attendance to stand up for the values Dr. King promoted. 

“Stand up when you can,” he said. “When you see an inequality … say something. Every one of you can make a difference, and we should make a difference.”

Following the keynote speech, Diane Heaney and Adele Helleksen sang “For Good,” a song from the musical “Wicked” written by Stephen Schwartz, and “Sing for Justice” by Abbie Betinis. 

The program closed with those in attendance singing “We Shall Overcome” by Charles Tindley and Pete Seeger. 

Donnelly stayed after the program to do a brief question-and-answer time regarding questions people had about immigration law.

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