Cleveland Public Library Honors Area Barrier Breakers with WKYC 3 for the 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Celebration

Cleveland Public Library, in partnership with WKYC, will recognize new and emerging leaders in our city during the 39^th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Celebration.

For the first year, Cleveland Public Library is partnering with WKYC to for its annual celebration tribute of Dr. King’s legacy. The is year’s theme is “Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers,” in recognition of King’s commitment to breaking down obstructions to equality. There are two opportunities to watch:

WHEN	CHANNEL	TIME
Saturday, January 13	WKYC	8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Monday, January 15	WKYC	7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

It’s always an honor for us to recognize individuals working to improve their corner of the community and make Cleveland a better place for future generations,” said Felton Thomas, Jr., Executive Director and CEO of Cleveland Public Library. “This program embodies the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who fought to break down barriers to equity.”

Drum Major for Change

This year, Connie Hill-Johnson will be honored with Cleveland Public Library’s Drum Major for Change Award. Hill-Johnson’s leadership as the Cleveland READS chairperson successfully brought Clevelanders together to read 1,476,215 books and spend a collective 10,699,118 minutes in 2023.

Hill-Johnson serves as the Chairperson for the Cleveland Foundation Board of Directors and is also the owner and managing director of Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services, a national franchise, based in Cleveland. Visiting Angels is an in-home service provider that assists older adults in living as independently as possible by remaining safely in their own familiar home environment.