Norman Mayor’s Interfaith Breakfast to honor Martin Luther King Jr.

NORMAN — Mayor Breea Clark and the Norman Human Rights Commission are inviting the community to the annual Mayor’s Interfaith Breakfast honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

The breakfast will be Monday in Fenn Hall at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church, 419 S University Blvd., and feature a keynote speech by Charles A. Kimball, as well as a presentation from the Inclusive Community Subcommittee.

Doors will open at 8 a.m. for registration, with breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and the program beginning at 9 a.m.

“This event is one of my favorite traditions in Norman, and I am honored to have the opportunity this year as mayor to welcome our speakers, diverse faith communities and residents of our city to join us in celebrating the life and work of Dr. King,” Clark said.

The keynote speech, titled “Truth over Fear: Nurturing Constructive Interfaith Relations in the 21st Century,” will be presented by Kimball, presidential professor and chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Oklahoma.

Leaders of a variety of faiths will offer inspirational commentary and prayers.

The final report and recommendations of the Norman Inclusive Community Subcommittee, a recently formed ad hoc subcommittee of the Norman Human Rights Commission, also will be presented at breakfast.

The Inclusive Community Subcommittee met over the past four months to discuss and prepare a list of recommendations regarding practical ways the city can be more inclusive and accessible to historically marginalized populations and all residents within the Norman community, a news release stated.

The subcommittee was co-chaired by Human Rights Commission members Marjaneh Seirafi-Pour and Dan Dukes.

Human Rights Commission Chair Kay Ham said, “This event is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together for the common purpose of enjoying and appreciating our diversity of faiths and gaining a better understanding of each other, as reflected by Dr. King’s principles.”

The breakfast is free and open to the public. Those planning to attend are requested to RSVP by Thursday by emailing Sarah Encinias at sarah. encinias@normanok.gov.

All fixed bus routes and paratransit services operated by the city of Norman’s public transportation system will remain in operation on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.