Community Videos

King County celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's legacy with the theme "Creating the Beloved Community." The keynote is delivered by Dr. Ben Danielson, an advocate for the health and well-being of children and families with low incomes. Dr. Danielson is a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington and for 20 years, he served as the medical director of Seattle Children's Hospital's Odessa Brown Children's Clinic, based out of Seattle's Central District, a historically Black neighborhood.

Speakers and performances include:

Event Opening by co-hosts: Vazaskia Crockrell, Equity and Social Justice Director - Metropolitan King County Council and Anita Whitfield, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer - King County Executive's Office

Land Acknowledgement: Christian Bishop, King County Native American Leadership Council

Lift Every Voice and Sing, widely acknowledged as the Black national anthem, Kirk Franklin and choir

Pouring of Libations: Cecelia Hayes, Equity, Social Justice and Inclusion Manager - Department of Executive Services

Welcome Community and Employees: Jabari Hampton, King County Black/African Affinity Group

Spoken Word Performance: Anastacia-Reneé, writer and poet

Executive Dow Constantine Provides Remarks

King County Council Chair Claudia Balducci Provides Remarks

2021 Larry Gossett Service Award Recipient is Announced: Remarks by Gerald W. Donaldson, Family Support Worker for Leschi Elementary School (Seattle Public Schools)

Introduction of Keynote Speaker: Vazaskia Crockrell

Keynote Speech: Dr. Ben Danielson, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at UW and Former Director of the Odessa Brown Children's Clinic

Final Words and Thanks: Anita Whitfield and Vazaskia Crockrell