STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Community members gathered Monday at the Central Family Life Center for the third annual Martin Luther King Jr. Fellowship Brunch to reflect on the Civil Rights leader’s legacy and commitment to service.
The annual fellowship brunch, created by the Staten Island Black Heritage organization, brought together elected officials, faith leaders and civic organizations.
Minnie Graham, co-founder of the organization and event host, said the brunch was created in response to a lack of Staten Island–based events honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Minnie Graham, co-founder of Staten Island Black Heritage organization and event host pictured with Rev. Daryl D. Moore at the third annual MLK Fellowship Brunch on Monday at Central Family Life Center in West Brighton.Sydney Maldonado
Graham said the fellowship brunch serves as a recommitment to improving conditions in the community by encouraging unity, understanding and continued action, specifically within the borough’s Black community.
Attendees included members of the Harriet Tubman Purple Hat Society, First Central Baptist Church, Fellowship Baptist Church, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and other local organizations.
The brunch opened with a prayer from Bishop Donnie Williams of Reach Out and Touch Ministries, followed by a blessing over the food from Rev. Dale Smith of First Baptist Church
After the meal, keynote speaker Rev. Daryl D. Moore, a Staten Island native and pastor of First Central Baptist Church, reflected on his childhood experiences at MLK Day events at his church and the importance of turning remembrance into action.
Rev. Daryl D. Moore speaking at the third annual MLK Fellowship Brunch on Monday at Central Family Life Center in West Brighton.Sydney Maldonado
Moore connected Dr. King’s fight for fair wages and support for workers to ongoing economic challenges in Staten Island, including poverty and cuts to programs like Medicaid, SNAP and the child tax credit.
“The reason why we have days like this is so that we can remember the moment and also understand the movement,” Moore said.
He urged attendees to carry the work forward beyond the event: “If you do nothing, what you do is say that this is only a moment and not a movement.”
Moore said King’s legacy is deeply personal to him, recalling that his first public speech as a teenager at church was about carrying on King’s work. Now, speaking at the brunch, he called it a “full circle” moment.
He noted similarities between himself and King, including graduating school early and entering ministry. “Since I’m a preacher, Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the few that means something to me because I feel like I’m in the lineage.”
Following Moore’s speech, Dr. Demetrius Carolina Sr. of First Central Baptist Church reflected on the importance of taking action in life and making a difference, echoing Moore’s message. He concluded with a prayer for attendees.
Faith leaders, Dr. Demetrius Carolina Sr., of First Central Baptist Church, far left, pictured with Rev. Daryl D. Moore of First Central Baptist Church, Bishop Donnie Williams from Reach Out & Touch Ministries, middle, and his wife along with Rev. Dale Smith of First Baptist Church at the third annual MLK Fellowship Brunch at Central Family Life Center on Monday in West Brighton.Sydney Maldonado
Beyond the program, Graham shared her thoughts on King’s legacy and the ongoing work of the fellowship brunch.
She said King was “committed to the improvement of not just Black people but the overall society” and fought for humanity, dignity and respect. She added that King’s example taught her that “the struggle continues and you don’t just give up. As long as you get up every day, there’s some way you can be about the business of unifying the community.”
Graham plans to continue honoring Martin Luther King Jr. through the fellowship brunch in the years ahead and hopes to reach a wider audience to educate.