Press release from MLK Association of Asheville & Buncombe County:
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County’s Community Outreach Providing Empowerment (COPE) committee is proud to announce the 2024 recipients of its John Lewis Award.
This award honors men in our community who have:
Fostered a culture of inclusion in the Asheville community.
Worked to achieve a just society for the disadvantaged.
Exemplified a nonviolent philosophy in pursuit of a better life for non-majority people.
Inspired direct action in the cause of social justice.
Our 2024 John Lewis Award honorees are:
DeWayne Barton (Hood Huggers): A social entrepreneur, veteran, and visual and performing artist who uses creative expression and experience to help protect, promote, and expand the dreams and goals of neighborhoods in the Affrilachian region.
Spencer Hardaway (Pastor, Rock Hill Baptist Church): Having retired as a Lieutenant Colonel (Airborne) from the U.S. Army, Spencer now dedicates his full time to serving his parishioners and the community of Asheville. He holds the position of Pastor at Rock Hill Missionary Baptist Church.
Calvin Hill (Chief District Court Judge): Serving as the chief district court judge for the 28th Judicial District, presiding over Buncombe County in North Carolina. Assuming the bench in 2006, he has held the position of chief district court judge since 2010. Re-elected in 2012, Hill secured another four-year term and was successfully re-elected in 2016.
Kenyon Lake (My Daddy Taught Me That): A third-generation Asheville native, Kenyon is the founder of My Daddy Taught Me That, a nonprofit dedicated to positively impacting the lives of young men through advocacy, education, and mentoring.
On Tuesday, February 20th, at 5:30 PM, the MLK Association will honor these four men with an award ceremony at Black Wall Street AVL, located at 8 River Arts Place. You are invited to attend. We celebrate and thank these award honorees for their leadership and dedicated service to our community.
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