Belinda Richardson, vice president for academic affairs at the Butler College Community College gave the keynote address at the YWCA's breakfast honoring the commitment of Martin Lutheran King's life, legacy, and commitment to fighting injustice.

The Butler YWCA's Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast Monday was a celebration of the civil rights leader and a call to continue his work.

Nearly 50 people attended the 8 a.m. event to hear keynote speaker Belinda Richardson, vice president for academic affairs at Butler County Community College and a member of the YWCA's board of directors.

“I am excited and humbled to be asked to speak,” Richardson said. “Excited because we are benefiting from Dr. King's legacy and humbled by the profound impact he has had on the nation and the world.”

But she challenged the audience to embrace and act on King's lessons instead of merely honoring them.

“The choices we make can affect the nation,” she said. “Are we going to seize the moment to help others or will we let fear and apathy win?”

This is an excerpt from a larger article that will appear in Tuesday's Butler Eagle. Subscribe online or in print to read the full article.