On January 25, Media Fellowship House, in partnership with the Media Area NAACP and local community organizations, hosted the 36th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Event, bringing together over 120 attendees in a powerful evening of reflection, dialogue, and celebration.
This year’s program focused on systemic inequities in the juvenile justice system and the challenges individuals face when reentering society after incarceration. The event featured an inspiring keynote address by Gregory Volz, JD, Director of Youth Courts & Instructor for Law & Justice at Harcum College, who shared insights on restorative justice and advocacy for at-risk youth.
A highlight of the evening was the induction of three extraordinary community leaders into the MLK Spirit Hall of Fame for their impactful work in criminal justice and prison reform:
- Mary DeWitt & Paulette Carrington – Artists and activists behind the Pardon Garden Project.
- Jonathan Abdur-Rahim King – Founder/CEO of Safe Corridors, dedicated to supporting individuals transitioning out of the justice system.
Founder/CEO of Safe Corridors
Pardon Garden Project
Director of Youth Courts at Harcum College
The program also featured moving musical performances by vocalist Ashli Rice and percussionists Kenyatta and Friends, whose rhythms and vocals set an uplifting and powerful tone for the evening.
Following the program, guests gathered for a community dinner catered by Cedar Creek Catering, fostering meaningful conversations and reinforcing Dr. King’s vision of unity, justice, and equality.
Thank you to everyone who adapted to our rescheduled date due to the snow and joined us in honoring Dr. King’s legacy. Your support and commitment mean so much, and we look forward to continuing this tradition together as we strive for a more just and equitable society.
You can view a recording of this event below.
About the MLK Spirit Hall of Fame
Dr. Martin Luther King is known and beloved for his acts and deeds. His qualities were many and included: Loyalty, Leadership, Integrity, Honesty, Determination, Courage.
There are many people in America, and in our own community, alive within the past 100 years who have possessed most or all of the qualities of Dr. King.
In 2018, Media Fellowship House and the Media Area NAACP invited the community online to nominate and vote for individuals whom it believed were worthy of induction into a “Hall of Fame” guided by the “spirit” of Dr. King. Some of the nominees were national figures, some local icons, such as MFH founders Dorothy James and Marie Whitaker. Each nominee has possessed qualities the community believed warrant acknowledgement for their good works and great spirit. That same year, twelve individuals were inducted into the “Hall of Fame.”
Each year, one or more Americans who have lived within the past 100 years will be added to the list to commemorate Dr. King’s memory. 2025 is no exception, in that MFH and Media Area NAACP has elected to honor prison reform activists and community organizers: Jonathan Abdur Rahim King, Mary DeWitt, and Paulette Carrington. These nominees are actively involved in missions that reflect the spirit of Dr. King and the mission of the Media Fellowship House and the Media Area NAACP.
It is hoped that the Spirit Hall of Fame will serve as an inspiration for study and reflection, and bring a wider audience to an understanding of Dr. King, his mission and life.
