♪ ♪
>> CAUSE I HAVE A DREAM.
>> YEAH!
>> THAT MY FOUR LITTLE CHILDREN
WILL ONE DAY LIVE IN A NATION
WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY
THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, BUT BY
THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.
I HAVE A DREAM TODAY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> HELLO.
I'M JONATHAN OVERBY, AND WELCOME
TO THE STATE OF WISCONSIN'S 37TH
ANNUAL TRIBUTE AND CEREMONY
HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING,
JR. AND TO COMMEMORATE THE LIFE
OF DR. KING, THE TREMPER HIGH
SCHOOL WIND ENSEMBLE, THE BROWN
SISTERS OF CHICAGO WILL PERFORM.
THE PROGRAM INCLUDES THE PRESENT
-ATION OF THE 2017 MLK HERITAGE
AWARDS FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE.
THE THEME CENTERS ON CELEBRATING
DIFFERENCE, THE CELEBRATION OF
GREATER UNDERSTANDING, EMPATHY
AND GOOD COMMUNITY AMONG PEOPLE.
TODAY'S GUEST SPEAKER IS
DR. VALERIE DANIELS-CARTER,
BUSINESS OWNER, AUTHOR,
AND PHILANTHROPIST WHO OVER 30
YEARS REALIZED HER DREAM INTO A
MULTI-BRAND CORPORATION THAT
EMPLOYS OVER 4,000 WORKERS.
WITH THAT, I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE
HIGHLIGHTS OF TODAY'S TRIBUTE
HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING,
JR.
♪
[TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE PERFORMING]
♪
[TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE PERFORMING]
♪
[TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE PERFORMING]
[APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, AND HAPPY
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY.
LET'S GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF
APPLAUSE TO THE TREMPER HIGH
SCHOOL WIND ENSEMBLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
>> IT'S MY HONOR TO WELCOME ALL
OF YOU HERE AND THOSE WATCHING
OR TUNING INTO THE 37TH ANNUAL
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING
CELEBRATION.
AND MY DUTIES ARE SHORT.
I GET TO TURN IT OVER TO THE
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR
OF THIS ANNUAL CELEBRATION,
THE OLDEST STATE-SPONSORED
CELEBRATION
OF ANY IN THE COUNTRY.
THE TRADITION GOES BACK.
LIKE I SAID, THIS IS THE 37TH
YEAR AND IT'S MY HONOR TO BRING
TO THE STAGE TO SERVE AS OUR
EMCEE DR. JONATHAN OVERBY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF
WISCONSIN'S COMMEMORATION TO
DR. KING'S LIFE AND LEGACY,
IN WORDS AND MUSIC.
WE CELEBRATE HIM.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT TIMES
IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
YOU LOOK OUT AND SEE THE
DIVERSITY, THE REPRESENTATION, A
LOT OF LEADERS, WHO HAVE TAKEN
TIME TO COME HERE TODAY.
WE SET ASIDE OUR DIFFERENCES AND
WE CELEBRATE EACH OTHER IN AN
EDIFYING WAY THAT PAYS TRIBUTE
TO OUR STATE AND TO THE
PRINCIPLES THAT DR. KING LIVED
FOR.
I AM SO HAPPY TO HAVE WITH US
TODAY FROM CHI-TOWN, CHICAGO,
ILLINOIS, THE BROWN SISTERS OF
CHICAGO, WHO HAVE PERFORMED
FOR MANY YEARS.
THEY'VE TOURED EXTENSIVELY.
AND DON'T THEY LOOK GOOD OVER
THERE, DON'T THEY?
[APPLAUSE]
>> I HOPE YOU GET A CHANCE TO
MEET THEM LATER ON, BUT RIGHT
NOW LET'S HAVE THEM SING.
PLEASE GIVE A BIG WISCONSIN
WELCOME TO THE BROWN SISTERS
OF CHICAGO.
[APPLAUSE]
♪
>> WE SERVE AN AWESOME GOD
AND WE'RE JUST HERE TO SING
ABOUT THAT TODAY.
HE IS AN AWESOME GOD AND HE IS
THE KING OF GLORY.
♪
♪ GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD ♪
♪ HE REIGNS IN MAJESTY ♪
♪ DOMINION AND POWER
BELONG TO HIM ♪
♪ HE IS THE KING OF GLORY ♪
♪ HE IS OUR GOD ♪
♪ THE IMPOSSIBLE, GOD CAN DO ♪
♪ HE CAN DO THE INCREDIBLE ♪
♪ GOD CAN ♪
♪ OH, YEAH, YEAH ♪
♪ GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD ♪
♪ HE REIGNS IN MAJESTY ♪
♪ AND ALL OF HIS
GLORY AND POWER ♪
♪ DOMINION AND POWER
BELONG TO HIM ♪
♪ HE IS THE KING OF GLORY ♪
♪ HE IS OUR GOD ♪
♪ YEAH ♪
♪ HE IS THE KING OF GLORY ♪
♪ STRONG AND MIGHTY GOD ♪
♪ HE IS THE KING OF GLORY ♪
♪ HE IS GOD ♪
♪ IS AN AWESOME GOD ♪
♪ OOH ♪
♪ GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD ♪
♪ OOH ♪
♪ HE REIGNS IN MAJESTY ♪
♪ DOMINION AND POWER
BELONG TO HIM ♪
♪ HE IS THE KING OF GLORY ♪
♪ HE IS OUR GOD ♪
♪ HE IS THE KING OF GLORY ♪
♪ STRONG AND MIGHTY GOD ♪
♪ HE IS THE KING OF GLORY ♪
♪ HE IS OUR GOD ♪
♪ HE IS THE KING OF GLORY ♪
♪ WE PRAISE YOU ♪
♪ WE MAGNIFY YOUR NAME ♪
♪ HE IS OUR GOD ♪
♪ HE IS THE KING OF GLORY ♪
♪ HE IS OUR GOD ♪
♪ WE PRAISE HIS NAME ♪
♪ WE EXALT YOU ♪
♪ YOU'RE THE HOLY LAMB OF GOD ♪
♪ WE ADORE YOU,
WE COME BEFORE YOU ♪
♪ WE COME BEFORE YOU ♪
♪ OH, WE BLESS YOUR NAME, GOD ♪
♪ AND WE BLESS YOUR HOLY NAME ♪
♪ WE EXALT YOU ♪
♪ WE EXALT YOUR NAME, LORD ♪
♪ WE EXALT YOU ♪
♪ BECAUSE YOU'RE THE HOLY LAMB
OF GOD ♪
♪ YOU'RE THE HOLY LAMB OF GOD ♪
♪ WE EXALT YOU ♪
♪ AND WE COME BEFORE
YOUR THRONE ♪
♪ WE COME BEFORE YOU ♪
♪ OH, BLESS YOUR NAME, BLESS
YOUR NAME, GOD ♪
♪ AND WE BLESS YOUR HOLY NAME ♪
♪ WE GIVE YOU GLORY, WE GIVE YOU
HONOR, GOD, WE BLESS YOUR NAME ♪
♪ AND WE BLESS YOUR HOLY NAME ♪
♪ WE BLESS YOUR NAME, GOD ♪
♪ AND WE BLESS YOUR HOLY NAME ♪
♪ GOD, OH, GOD ♪
♪ AND WE BLESS YOUR HOLY NAME ♪
♪ TO THEE, OUR LORD ♪
♪ GLORY BE TO OUR LORD ♪
♪ OH, LORD ♪
>> HALLELUJAH.
GLORY BE TO GOD.
[APPLAUSE]
>> GLORY BE TO GOD.
HALLELUJAH!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WELL, RETURNING THIS YEAR TO
THE MLK CELEBRATION IS THE
TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE FROM KENOSHA,
WISCONSIN.
THE ENSEMBLE IS MADE UP OF 43 OF
THE TOP WIND AND PERCUSSIONISTS
IN GRADES 10-12 AND HAVING
CONSISTENTLY EARNED DIVISION ONE
RATINGS AT THE WISCONSIN SCHOOL
MUSIC ASSOCIATION COMPETITION.
HERE THEY ARE ONCE AGAIN,
CONDUCTED BY DR. KATHRYN RIPLEY,
THE TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE.
♪
[TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE PERFORMING]
♪
[TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE PERFORMING]
[APPLAUSE]
>> KATHRYN RIPLEY CONDUCTING THE
TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE.
JOURNEY HOUSE HELPS MOVE
RESIDENTS OF MILWAUKEE,
WISCONSIN'S CLARKE STREET
NEIGHBORHOOD OUT OF POVERTY BY
PROVIDING ADULT EDUCATION, WORK
FORCE READINESS, YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY
ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS.
FOR MORE THAN 45 YEARS, JOURNEY
HOUSE PROGRAMS HAVE DEVELOPED
TOP TALENT THROUGH EDUCATION,
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND LIFE
SKILLS DESIGNED TO REDUCE
UNEMPLOYMENT AND CRIME, TO
STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, TO
REVITALIZE NEIGHBORHOODS.
JOURNEY HOUSE WORKS WITH MORE
THAN 7,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY.
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN IS INDEED
PLEASED TO PRESENT TO JOURNEY
HOUSE THE 2017 MLK HERITAGE
AWARD FOR SERVICE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I AM SO GRATEFUL AND HONORED
TO BE HERE TODAY AND TO RECEIVE
THIS ON BEHALF OF JOURNEY HOUSE
AND THE 7,000 CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES WE SERVE EVERY YEAR.
AT JOURNEY HOUSE, OUR MOTTO IS
"ONE DREAM, ONE TEAM."
OUR FORMULA FOR SUCCESS IN
DEVELOPING A THRIVING AND
VIBRANT COMMUNITY AND YOUNG
PEOPLE INCLUDE THREE
INGREDIENTS: EFFORT PLUS TIME
PLUS BELIEF.
EFFORT IS THAT HARD WORK,
AND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING
HAD UNBELIEVABLE HARD WORK
IN FRONT OF HIM.
HE NEVER GAVE UP DESPITE
PAIN AND ADVERSITY.
IF IT WERE EASY, THEN EVERYONE
WOULD BE DOING IT.
SO IT TAKES HARD WORK.
IT TAKES TIME, PATIENCE.
YOU KNOW, IN AN ERA OF INSTANT
GRATIFICATION OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
THINK THINGS SHOULD COME EASY.
BUT IT TAKES A LONG TIME
FOR CHANGE.
AND THEN MOST IMPORTANTLY,
BELIEF.
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING HAD
UNWAVERING FAITH AND BELIEF.
AND WITH THOSE THREE
INGREDIENTS, EFFORT, TIME PLUS
BELIEF, YOU CAN MAKE
THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING
IN MILWAUKEE.
JOURNEY HOUSE BELIEVES THAT
INFINITE POSSIBILITIES EXIST
WHEN WE GATHER ALL OUR PARTNERS,
AND THAT'S HOW WE DO IT IN
MILWAUKEE, PARTNERSHIPS, WHO ARE
CREATIVE, INSPIRED, COMMITTED,
ENGAGED, EMPOWERED LEADERS, WHO
GO BEYOND OUR OWN PERSONAL
LIMITATIONS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT
ABOUT US, AND COMMIT TO
COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS.
IN 2017, I ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU
WHEN YOU REFLECT ON YOUR JOURNEY
AHEAD TO BE LIKE DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING AND GET OUT OF YOUR
COMFORT ZONE AND FORM OR JOIN A
TEAM TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
A GREATER GOOD.
ONE PERSON
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
DR. MARTIN KING MADE
AN ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE.
I KNOW YOU CAN, TOO.
BE THE DIFFERENCE.
BE 100% COMMITTED TO WHATEVER IT
IS THAT YOU COMMIT TO.
BE KIND, BE PHENOMENAL, BELIEVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT'S AN HONOR TO REPRESENT
MILWAUKEE AND THIS STATE.
THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.
THANK YOU, DR. OVERBY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I WANT SOME OF HER ENERGY.
I JUST GOT TO SAY IT.
I DON'T KNOW.
GIVE HER ANOTHER HAND PLEASE.
WONDERFUL WORK SHE'S DOING
AT JOURNEY HOUSE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> OUR NEXT AWARD GOES TO RONALD
MORRIS, ADMISSIONS ADVISOR FOR
MULTICULTURAL RECRUITMENT AND
DOES SO AT UW-GREEN BAY.
RONALD INSPIRES STUDENTS OF
COLOR TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS
THROUGH A COLLEGE EDUCATION.
HIS EFFORTS INCLUDE CAPTURING
THE ATTENTION OF MIDDLE SCHOOL
STUDENTS TO HELP THEM THINK
ABOUT THEIR FUTURE, THEIR
EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER GOALS
EARLY ON.
RON MORRIS ALSO ORGANIZES WHAT'S
KNOWN AS "OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS" AS
UW-GREEN BAY FOR HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS OF COLOR SO THEY FEEL
WELCOMED ON CAMPUS AND CAN
EXPERIENCE THE FULL LIFE OF WHAT
STUDENTS REALLY CAN ACHIEVE AND
ENJOY IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL
EXPERIENCE.
IT IS WELL-KNOWN AROUND THE
CAMPUS THAT MR. MORRIS IS
DEDICATED TO STUDENTS OF COLOR.
THEY CAN CALL ON HIM ALL THE
TIME, NOT ONLY TO ADVISE THEM,
BUT HE GOES THE DISTANCE TO LOOK
OUT FOR THEM AS THEY NAVIGATE
THEIR COLLEGE LIFE.
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN IS
PLEASED TO PRESENT TO RONALD
MORRIS THE 2017 MLK HERITAGE
AWARD.
RONALD?
[APPLAUSE]
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AS A
YOUNG, YOUNG BOY GROWING UP IN
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, I, LIKE
MANY, LIKED TO PLAY.
THESE GAMES INCLUDED FOUR
SQUARE, HOP SCOTCH, RED
MAYBE ONE OR TWO OF YOU WILL
REMEMBER.
IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA DURING
THIS ERA, WHEN YOUNG LADIES AND
YOUNG MEN GREETED OUR ELDERS AS
SIR AND MA'AM AND DURING A TIME
WHEN, GET THIS, YOUNG GIRLS AND
WOMEN HAD JUST RECENTLY WON THE
RIGHT TO WEAR PANTS IN SCHOOL.
ON THE BLOCK, I WITNESSED
SOMETHING LIFE-CHANGING.
ON THE BLOCK, AS I PLAYED WITH
OTHER CHILDREN, THE OAKLAND
POLICE DEPARTMENT CAME IN
FORCE AND ASKED US TO BACK UP,
ONE HOUSE, TWO HOUSE, THREE
HOUSES BACK.
THEY WERE RESPONDING TO A CALL
OF A MIDDLE-AGED YOUNG BLACK MAN
WHO WAS HAVING
EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL
DISTRESS.
THEY POSITIONED THEMSELVES
ACROSS THE STREET, IN BUSHES,
ON ROOFS, CUT THE POWER
AND THE TELEPHONE LINES OF THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD AND BEGAN THEIR
OPERATION.
WITH CURIOSITY AND WIDE-EYED
WONDER, I WATCHED, IN THE
COMPANY OF OTHER CHILDREN,
ADULTS AND OTHER COMMUNITY
MEMBERS, AS EVENTUALLY THIS
YOUNG MAN COMPLIED WITH THE
WISHES AND HE DID INDEED COME TO
THE THRESHOLD OF THE DOOR, HANDS
HELD EMPTY AND HIGH, STRIPPED TO
THE WAIST, AS THEY ASKED HIM TO
DO DURING THAT ERA.
AND AS THIS MAN CROSSED THE
THRESHOLD, THEY OPENED FIRE.
THAT'S THE COLOR OF WHAT I SAW.
AND I LIVED ON THE GOOD SIDE OF
TOWN.
I CHOSE ANOTHER WAY OF
RESISTANCE, AND MY UNDERSTANDING
IS THAT EDUCATION IS A POWERFUL
MECHANISM, BECAUSE YOU CAN DO
THINGS THAT I CAN'T DO.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU, YOUNG, OLD
AND OTHERS, TO PLEASE PURSUE
YOUR DREAMS, MEET THE CHALLENGES
OF EDUCATION AND CHANGE THIS
WORLD IN A WAY THAT I NEVER CAN.
HAVE A FANTASTIC EVENING, AND
THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING
RON MORRIS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I SEE THE BROWN SISTERS,
YOU'RE BACK OVER THERE,
SO I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE
GOING TO SING A SONG?
ALL RIGHT.
GIVE THEM ANOTHER HAND,
THE BROWN SISTERS OF CHICAGO.
[APPLAUSE]
>> NOW, PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER
LIKE THIS.
[PEOPLE CLAPPING]
>> ♪ COME ON.
PUT YOUR HANDS, TOGETHER.
EVERYBODY.
ANYBODY WANT TO HAVE A LITTLE
FUN RIGHT NOW?
JUST A FEW MOMENTS.
LET'S DO IT TOGETHER.
HERE WE GO.
♪ EVERYBODY SAY HAIL, JESUS,
YOU'RE MY KING.
♪ YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN CONCEIVED ♪
♪ I WILL PRAISE YOU
ALL MY DAYS ♪
♪ BECAUSE YOU'RE PERFECT IN ALL
YOUR WAYS ♪
♪ HAIL, JESUS, YOU'RE MY LORD ♪
♪ I WILL OBEY YOUR WORD ♪
♪ BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE YOUR
KINGDOM COME ♪
♪ NOT MY WILL, BUT YOURS BE
DONE ♪
♪ OH, GLORY, GLORY, TO THE
LAMB ♪
♪ YOU WILL TAKE US INTO THE
LAND ♪
♪ WE WILL CONQUER IN YOUR THAT ♪
♪ AND PROCLAIM THAT JESUS
REIGNS ♪
♪ OH, HAIL, HAIL, LION OF
JUDAH ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL YOU ARE ♪
♪ OH, YEAH, HAIL, HAIL, LION OF
JUDAH ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL YOU ARE ♪
♪ HAIL, JESUS, YOU'RE MY KING ♪
♪ YOUR LIFE BRINGS ME TO SING ♪
♪ I WILL PRAISE YOU ALL MY
DAYS ♪
♪ BECAUSE YOU'RE PERFECT IN ALL
YOUR WAYS ♪
♪ OH, GLORY, GLORY TO THE LAMB ♪
♪ GLORY, GLORY TO THE LAMB ♪
♪ YOU WILL TAKE US INTO THE
LAND ♪
♪ WE WILL CONQUER IN YOUR NAME ♪
♪ AND PROCLAIM THAT JESUS
REIGNS ♪
♪ OH, HAIL, HAIL, LION OF
JUDAH ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL YOU ARE ♪
♪ OH, YEAH, HAIL, HAIL, LION OF
JUDAH ♪
♪ HAIL, HAIL, LION OF JUDAH ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL YOU ARE ♪
♪ HOW POWERFUL YOU ARE ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL YOU ARE ♪
♪ HOW POWERFUL YOU ARE ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL ♪
♪ HOW POWERFUL YOU ARE ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL ♪
♪ YES, YOU ARE, YES, YOU ARE,
YES, YOU ARE ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL.
♪ YES, YOU ARE, YES, YOU ARE ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL ♪
♪ YES, YOU ARE, YES, YOU ARE ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL ♪
♪ OH, YES, YOU ARE, YES, YOU
ARE, YES, YOU ARE ♪
♪ GIVE THE PRAISE, GOT TO GIVE
IT UP ♪
♪ COME ON ♪
♪ GIVE THE PRAISE, GIVE IT UP,
COME ON ♪
♪ GIVE HIM THE PRAISE, GOT TO
GIVE IT UP, COME ON ♪
♪ GIVE HIM THE PRAISE, GOT TO
GIVE IT UP, COME ON ♪
♪
>> I WONDER IF YOU COULD SAY
SOMETHING WITH US.
VERY SIMPLE.
JUST SAY THIS.
SAY HAIL TO THE KING.
♪ HAIL TO THE KING ♪
♪ SAY HAIL TO THE KING ♪
>> SAY HAIL TO THE KING ♪
♪ HAIL TO THE KING ♪
♪ I SAY HAIL TO THE KING ♪
♪ HAIL TO THE KING ♪
>> COME ON, LADIES, LET'S GO.
♪
>> YOU'RE GONNA SHOUT
HALLELUJAH!
WHOO!
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND NOW IT IS MY HONOR TO
INTRODUCE TO YOU OUR GUEST
SPEAKER TODAY, THE PRESIDENT AND
CEO OF V&J FOODS HOLDING
COMPANIES INCORPORATED, A
MULTI-BRAND, MULTI-STATE
OPERATION, THE LARGEST FRANCHISE
ORGANIZATION IN THE NATION.
SHE'S ALSO A LIFE COACH,
PHILANTHROPIST AND ON THE CAMPUS
OF HER MILWAUKEE-BASED CHURCH,
SHE AND HER FAMILY OPENED, GET
THIS, A 160,000 SQUARE FOOT
CENTER THAT HOUSES A BOYS &
GIRLS CLUB, FAMILY SERVICE
CENTER, TWO SCHOOLS K-12, LOAN
CENTER, MEDICAL FACILITY AND A
COMMUNITY MEETINGS FACILITY,
BETTER KNOWN AS THE MOTHER
KATHRYN DANIELS YOUTH CENTER.
WHOO!
MY GOODNESS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND SHE ALSO OPENED NOT ONE,
NOT TWO, BUT THREE ORPHANAGES
IN KENYA AND GHANA.
SHE IS-- AND I SAY THIS
WITH ALL SINCERITY--
A TRUE MODEL, STEEPED IN
DEEP FAITH, AND SHE'S COMMITTED
TO UNYIELDING HARD WORK.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING
DR. VALERIE DANIELS-CARTER.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, DR. OVERBY, AND TO
OUR WONDERFUL GOVERNOR AND CAN
I JUST SAY TO ALL OF THE
CONSTITUENTS OF THE DAIS AND TO
THIS AUGUST BODY OF INDIVIDUALS
THAT HAVE COME TO CELEBRATE A
WONDERFUL DAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> OH, YOU GUYS, THAT WASN'T
GOOD ENOUGH.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON!
>> MUCH BETTER.
AND I ACTUALLY HAVE TO START MY
PRESENTATION OFF TODAY WITH
SAYING GO, PACKERS, GO!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WE ONLY HAVE TWO MORE GAMES
TO GO, AND I'M SURE WE'LL TAKE
CARE OF THOSE TWO AS WELL.
I AM SO HONORED AND HUMBLED TO
BE WITH YOU ON TODAY AND
CELEBRATE THIS WONDERFUL DAY,
THE 37TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE HONORING
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., WHO
WAS A MINISTER, AN ACTIVIST, ONE
WHO LED CIVIL RIGHTS THROUGH A
MOVEMENT CALLED NONVIOLENCE.
NONVIOLENCE WAS HIS GUIDING
PRINCIPLES.
HE STARTED IN THE 1950s, WHICH
WE ALL KNOW WAS NOT THE GREATEST
TIME IN AMERICA TO GET UP AND TO
MAKE A DECLARATION FOR
INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM.
BUT HE DID IT BECAUSE HE
UNDERSTOOD WHO HE WAS, WHAT HE
HAD BEEN CALLED TO DO AND WHY HE
HAD TO DO IT.
HE LEFT HERE IN 1968,
PREMATURELY, BECAUSE OF WHAT HE
BELIEVED IN.
YOUR TOPIC FOR TODAY'S SESSION
IS "THE JOURNEY AHEAD.
" ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT
THINGS FOR A PERSON TO
UNDERSTAND IS THEIR PURPOSE, HOW
TO BE EFFECTIVE, SUCCESSFUL AND
SUSTAINABLE, HOW TO OVERCOME
OBSTACLES DESPITE WHAT MAY BE IN
FRONT OF YOU.
THERE ARE CERTAIN QUESTIONS YOU
HAVE TO PROACTIVELY AND HONESTLY
ASK YOURSELF IF YOU INDEED ARE
GOING TO BE A BEACON OF CHANGE.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY BECAUSE
I REPRESENT THE FUTURE THAT
DR. KING COULD NOT SEE, BUT HE
FOUGHT FOR.
THROUGH MANY DANGERS, TOILS AND
SNARES, I HAVE ALREADY COME.
LATER TODAY I'LL BE DOING AN
AUTOGRAPH SIGNING OF A BOOK THAT
I WROTE, TALKS ABOUT MY LIFE
JOURNEY AS A BUSINESSWOMAN.
I KNOW YOU SEE ME NOW, AND I
DON'T LOOK TOO BAD.
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
>> BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT
I DON'T LOOK LIKE WHAT I'VE BEEN
THROUGH.
AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU CAN
ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT YOU
DON'T LOOK LIKE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN
THROUGH.
YOU SIT IN HERE TODAY, AND YOU
LOOK BEAUTIFUL, YOU HAVE SMILES
ON YOUR FACE.
WELL, THERE WERE MANY TIMES THAT
YOU HAD TO ENDURE HARDNESS IN
ORDER TO GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
FIRST QUESTION I HAVE TO ASK
MYSELF IS "WHO AM I AND WHAT
DO I REALLY WANT TO BECOME?"
I'VE BEEN A BUSINESSWOMAN
IN WISCONSIN FOR 35 YEARS,
THE LARGEST FEMALE
FRANCHISE OWNER IN THE WORLD.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> SAY WHAT BRANDS?
YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO
PROMOTE MY OWN.
BURGER KING, PIZZA HUT, AUNTIE
ANN'S PRETZELS, DJ CAFE.
BUT I DID NOT GET THERE
OVERNIGHT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I
APPLIED TO BURGER KING IN 1982,
THEY LOST MY APPLICATION.
I CALLED THEM BACK.
SAID WHERE IS MY APPLICATION?
THEY SAID, WE NEVER GOT IT.
I SAID, NO PROBLEM, I KNOW HOW
TO FILL ANOTHER ONE OUT.
I FILLED OUT MY SECOND
APPLICATION, SENT IT IN, HAD A
SIGNATURE THAT CAME BACK TO ME
THAT TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD
RECEIVED IT.
I CALLED THEM.
SAME RESPONSE.
WE DON'T HAVE YOUR APPLICATION.
SAYS NOT A PROBLEM, I KNOW HOW
TO FILL IT OUT AGAIN.
SO THE THIRD TIME I FILLED OUT
AN APPLICATION, SENT IT IN, GOT
MY SIGNATURE THAT THEY HAD
RECEIVED IT, CALLED THEM UP, GOT
THE SAME RESPONSE.
THEY SAID, WE DON'T HAVE
YOUR APPLICATION.
I SAID, WELL, HOLD ON.
TELL ME WHO IS MARY JANE
RUTKOWSKI THAT SIGNED FOR THIS
PACKAGE, THE DATE, THE TIME.
DOES SHE WORK AT BURGER KING?
YOU HAVE TO HAVE PERSEVERANCE.
AFTER THEY FOUND MARY JANE, THEY
FOUND MY APPLICATION.
BUT MY APPLICATION DID NOT GET
PROCESSED JUST BECAUSE THEY
FOUND MARY JANE.
MY APPLICATION SAT ON THE DESK
OF THE VP OF FRANCHISES.
I CALLED EVERY WEEK.
ARE YOU GOING TO PROCESS
MY APPLICATION?
I CALLED THEM UNTIL THEY GOT
TIRED OF ME CALLING THEM, AND
THEY SET UP AN INTERVIEW FOR ME
AND TOLD ME TO GO TO
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA BECAUSE
AT THE TIME PILLSBURY OWNED
BURGER KING, AND I WOULD HAVE
AN INTERVIEW.
I PREPARED MYSELF, WENT TO
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.
MY APPOINTMENT WAS
AT 8:30 IN THE MORNING,
SO I GOT THERE AT 8:00.
WHEN I GOT THERE,
I WENT TO THE OFFICE THAT
I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO.
NOBODY WAS THERE.
I WAITED ON THE OUTSIDE FOR
SOMEBODY TO SHOW UP.
EVENTUALLY, ABOUT 8:25 OR SO,
THE SECRETARY CAME IN
AND UNLOCKED THE DOOR.
I LOOKED AT HER.
I SAID, MY NAME IS VALERIE
DANIELS-CARTER, AND I'M HERE FOR
AN INTERVIEW.
SHE SAID TO ME, OH, YEAH, I
REMEMBER YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE
HERE TODAY.
WHY DON'T YOU HAVE A SEAT
IN THE FOYER.
I SAT DOWN IN THE FOYER.
TALKING ABOUT 1982, NOT 1950.
1982.
AND AS I SAT IN THAT FOYER, I
BEGAN TO PONDER AND THINK ABOUT
WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT
WOULD CONVINCE SOMEONE THAT DID
NOT LOOK LIKE ME THAT I COULD DO
WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.
HOW COULD I CONVINCE THIS MAN,
THIS MAN, THAT GREATNESS
IS PURPOSEFUL?
HE WALKED IN, WALKED BY ME,
DID NOT SPEAK.
I SAT THERE.
NOON CAME.
I SAT THERE.
HE WALKED OUT FOR LUNCH, DID NOT
SPEAK.
I SAT THERE.
THIS WAS A FRIDAY EVENING.
AND ABOUT 4:30, 5:00 THAT
EVENING HE WALKED OUT OF HIS
OFFICE AND HE SAYS, ARE YOU THE
YOUNG LADY THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO
INTERVIEW?
AND I SAID, I AM.
HE SAYS, WELL, I CAN'T INTERVIEW
YOU TODAY BECAUSE ME AND SOME OF
THE BOYS ARE GOING HUNTING.
I SAYS, YOU'RE GOING HUNTING?
HE SAYS, YES.
I SAID, CAN I GO HUNTING
WITH YOU?
[LAUGHTER]
>> HE SAID TO ME, IN AMAZEMENT
AND SHOCK, YES.
SO HE PICKED UP HIS BAG
AND STARTED WALKING
TOWARDS HIS TRUCK.
I DIDN'T HAVE MY BAG BECAUSE IT
WAS BACK AT THE HOTEL,
SO I JUST STARTED WALKING.
I WALKED TOWARDS HIS TRUCK.
I SAT IN THE BACK SEAT.
THEY DROVE ME TO A PLACE CALLED
MINNETONKA, MINNESOTA.
SOME OF YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT
MINNETONKA, MINNESOTA?
I'M SITTING THERE, NIGHT HAS
ALREADY FALLEN, I'M LOOKING
AROUND, ONE BLACK FEMALE IN A
CABIN WITH 14 WHITE MALES.
THIS AIN'T A GOOD STORY.
SO I TELL THEM, I SAID, LOOK,
I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE
HOTEL, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T LOOK
LIKE I'M GETTING AN INTERVIEW
TODAY, BUT I'LL BE BACK.
THEY SAID, YOU'LL NEVER GET BACK
BECAUSE OF A SNOWSTORM AND
BECAUSE OF WHERE YOU ARE.
SO I PICK UP THE PHONE.
I DIAL 911.
I SAID, WE'VE GOT AN EMERGENCY.
CAN YOU SEE WHERE I AM?
THEY SAID, YES, WE CAN SEE
WHERE YOU ARE.
I SAID,
YOU HAVE TO COME RIGHT NOW.
SO THEY CAME, THEY GOT ME,
THEY TOOK ME BACK TO THE HOTEL.
BUT ON MY WAY BACK TO THE HOTEL,
I WROTE DOWN EVERY TURN,
BECAUSE I KNEW I WAS GOING BACK.
THAT'S WHAT
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.
IT IS NOT ABOUT WHO YOU ARE.
IT IS NOT ABOUT
WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
IT'S ABOUT YOUR PERSEVERANCE TO
GET TO WHERE YOU'RE GOING AND
NOT ALLOW ANYTHING OR ANYBODY --
[APPLAUSE]
>> WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
BUY THE BOOK, BECAUSE I GOT TO
CLOSE NOW.
GREATNESS IS PURPOSEFUL
SERVANTHOOD, WITH INTEGRITY THAT
PURSUES AFTER EXCELLENCE
WITHOUT COMPROMISE.
IT IGNITES THE INWARD QUALITIES
OF A BELIEVER AND CAUSES THEM TO
RADIATE FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
IT IS WHO YOU ARE WHEN YOU HAVE
ACKNOWLEDGED AND ACCEPTED YOUR
CORE SPIRITUAL ATTRIBUTES AND
ARE A LIVING TESTIMONY
TO DIVINE PURPOSE.
IT'S NOT BASED ON HOW STRONG OR
HOW RICH OR EVEN HOW SKILLED YOU
MAY BE, BUT IT IS PREDICATED
ON HOW WELL YOU NAVIGATE
IN YOUR DIVINE ASSIGNMENT.
IT REQUIRES YOU TO BE HONEST.
IT REQUIRES YOU TO RECOGNIZE
YOUR DISPOSITION WHILE HAVING
THE INTELLIGENCE TO MANAGE
BETWEEN YOUR SEASONS OF TRIALS
AND TIMES OF VICTORY.
GREATNESS IS NOT BLIND.
IT RECOGNIZES THE FORCES THAT
TRY TO DESTROY IT.
BUT IT DOES NOT GIVE IN
TO THOSE PRESSURES.
GREATNESS AND EXCELLENCE ARE
FORCES THAT WE HAVE TO CONTEND
WITH IF WE'RE GOING TO SEIZE
AND TAKE WISCONSIN
TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I CHALLENGE YOU TODAY TO LIFT
EVERY VOICE AND SING TILL EARTH
AND HEAVEN RINGS,
RINGS WITH THE HARMONY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> ALL RIGHT.
EACH YEAR, FOLKS, YOU KNOW WE
INVITE A STUDENT TO RECITE AN
EXCERPT FROM DR. KING'S FAMOUS
1963 SPEECH "I HAVE A DREAM."
THIS YEAR WE'VE INVITED AN ALUM,
JADON NATHANAEL COBERT.
HE'S NOW IN THE 6TH GRADE.
HE IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN MUSIC
AND HE'S A MEMBER OF THE BAND
AND OFTEN SINGS AND PLAYS HIS
GUITAR FOR MASS.
JADON ALSO SINGS WITH
THE MADISON YOUTH CHOIR.
HE HAS GOTTEN TALLER.
HE NO LONGER NEEDS THAT BOX.
AND HIS VOICE I THINK HAS GOTTEN
A LITTLE DEEPER.
SO WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE
HIM HERE ONCE AGAIN.
JADON NATHANAEL COBERT.
JADON?
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND EVEN SO, WE FACE THE
DIFFICULTIES OF TODAY AND
TOMORROW, I STILL HAVE A DREAM.
IT'S AS DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE
AMERICAN DREAM.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY THIS
NATION WILL RISE UP AND LIVE OUT
THE TRUE MEANING OF ITS CREED:
"WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE
SELF-EVIDENT: THAT ALL MEN
ARE CREATED EQUAL."
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY ON
THE RED HILLS OF GEORGIA THE
SONS OF FORMER SLAVES AND THE
SONS OF FORMER SLAVE OWNERS WILL
BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER
AT THE TABLE OF BROTHERHOOD.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY
EVEN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, A
STATE SWELTERING WITH THE HEAT
OF INJUSTICE, SWELTERING WITH
THE HEAT OF OPPRESSION, WILL BE
TRANSFORMED INTO AN OASIS OF
FREEDOM AND JUSTICE.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT MY FOUR
LITTLE CHILDREN WILL ONE DAY
LIVE IN A NATION WHERE THEY
WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY THE
COLOR OF THEIR SKIN BUT BY
THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.
I HAVE A DREAM TODAY.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY,
DOWN IN ALABAMA, WITH ITS
VICIOUS RACISTS, WITH ITS
GOVERNOR HAVING HIS LIPS
DRIPPING WITH THE WORDS OF
INTERPOSITION AND NULLIFICATION;
ONE DAY RIGHT THERE IN ALABAMA,
LITTLE BLACK BOYS AND BLACK
GIRLS WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN HANDS
WITH LITTLE WHITE BOYS AND WHITE
GIRLS AS SISTERS AND BROTHERS.
I HAVE A DREAM TODAY.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY
EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE EXALTED,
AND EVERY HILL AND MOUNTAIN
SHALL BE MADE LOW, THE ROUGH
PLACES WILL BE MADE PLAIN, AND
THE CROOKED PLACES WILL BE MADE
STRAIGHT, AND THE GLORY OF THE
LORD SHALL BE REVEALED, AND ALL
THE FLESH SHALL SEE IT TOGETHER.
THIS IS OUR HOPE, AND THIS IS
THE FAITH THAT I GO BACK TO THE
SOUTH WITH.
WITH THIS FAITH WE WILL BE ABLE
TO HEW OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN
OF DESPAIR A STONE OF HOPE.
WITH THIS FAITH WE WILL BE ABLE
TO TRANSFORM THE JANGLING
DISCORDS OF OUR NATION INTO A
BEAUTIFUL SYMPHONY OF
BROTHERHOOD.
WITH THIS FAITH WE WILL BE ABLE
TO WORK TOGETHER, TO PRAY
TOGETHER, TO STRUGGLE TOGETHER,
TO GO TO JAIL TOGETHER, TO STAND
UP FOR FREEDOM TOGETHER, KNOWING
THAT WE WILL BE FREE ONE DAY.
AND THIS WILL BE THE DAY WHEN
ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN WILL BE
ABLE TO SING WITH A NEW MEANING,
"MY COUNTRY, 'TIS OF THEE, SWEET
LAND OF LIBERTY, OF THEE I SING.
LAND WHERE MY FATHERS DIED,
LAND OF THE PILGRIM'S PRIDE,
FROM EVERY MOUNTAINSIDE,
LET FREEDOM RING."
AND IF AMERICA IS TO BE A GREAT
NATION THIS MUST BECOME TRUE.
AND SO LET FREEDOM RING
FROM THE PRODIGIOUS HILLTOPS
OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE MIGHTY
MOUNTAINS OF NEW YORK.
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE
HEIGHTENING ALLEGHENIES OF
PENNSYLVANIA!
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE
SNOWCAPPED ROCKIES OF COLORADO!
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE
CURVACEOUS SLOPES OF CALIFORNIA!
BUT NOT ONLY THAT; LET FREEDOM
RING FROM STONE MOUNTAIN OF
GEORGIA!
LET FREEDOM RING FROM LOOKOUT
MOUNTAIN OF TENNESSEE!
LET FREEDOM RING FROM EVERY HILL
AND MOLEHILL OF MISSISSIPPI.
FROM EVERY MOUNTAINSIDE,
LET FREEDOM RING.
AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WHEN WE
ALLOW FREEDOM TO RING, WHEN WE
LET IT RING FROM EVERY VILLAGE
AND EVERY HAMLET, FROM EVERY
STATE AND EVERY CITY, WE'LL BE
ABLE TO SPEED UP THAT DAY WHEN
ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN, BLACK MEN
AND WHITE MEN, JEWS, GENTILES,
PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS WILL
BE ABLE TO JOIN HANDS AND SING
IN THE WORDS OF
THE OLD NEGRO SPIRITUAL.
FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST,
THANK GOD ALMIGHTY
WE ARE FREE AT LAST!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> JADON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND WITH THAT WE CONCLUDE
OUR PROGRAM TODAY.
BUT BEFORE WE GO, WE THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR CELEBRATING
DR. KING'S LIFE AND LEGACY WITH
THE 37TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE
AND CEREMONY HONORING HIM
AND HIS WORK.
WITH THAT, ON BEHALF OF THE
OFFICE OF GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER,
I'M JONATHAN OVERBY.
THANK YOU AND MAY YOUR WEEK BE
FILLED WITH PEACE AND HARMONY.
GOOD DAY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
♪