OUR VISION

"I refuse to accept the view that the bright daybreak of Peace and Brotherhood can NEVER become a reality."  Excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's acceptance speech, 
on the occasion of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, December 10, 1964

In 1990, Black Mountain resident Lib Harper and then Mayor Carl Bartlett had the idea for an organization to honor the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They envisioned a group that would serve to share his vision with the people of the Swannanoa Valley. They enlisted supporters, began planning, and held the first prayer breakfast celebrating and recognizing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday at Ridgecrest Conference Center on January 12, 1991. 

The fledgling organization would later become The Swannanoa Valley Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Corporation officially incorporated in 1994 for the following purposes:

• to present the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr in ways that bring knowledge and awareness to people in the communities served by the corporation
• to celebrate and recognize the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday with an annual public event
• to establish a monetary fund to be used for educational projects or grants throughout the schools in Swannanoa Valley, and to be used to benefit individual students worthy of scholarship or grant assistance
• to facilitate community events and leadership opportunities for the citizens of the Swannanoa Valley
• to provide a forum through which teachers, students, and members of the public may obtain information and teachings on social and diversity issues
• to provide a forum for individuals and community mediation and facilitation
• to promote the development of character, integrity, leadership, and scholarship of young people in the area

Today, The Swannanoa Valley Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Corporation works diligently to bring to life these purposes and values for the benefit of all the area's citizens.

The organization endorsed the Dialogue on Race, a series of community dialogues designed to promote frank, honest communication among people of different races. It has also cosponsored the YWCA's annual Stand Against Racism, including a daylong program for high school and college students.

In the past, we participated in the 50th Anniversary of Dr. King's address to the Christian Action Conference - Montreat Conference Center, August 21 - 23, 2015. For more information, click here.

Thank you to David Hearne for volunteering his photography skills at the 2019 Prayer Breakfast. All photos are from David Hearne.

Board of Directors
Sheila Showers, President (2017)
Sylvia Carpenter, Scholarship Chair, Co-Breakfast Chair(2017)
Diane Hutchins, Vice President (2017)
Lillian Logan, Program Chair, Co-Breakfast Chair(2017)
​Barbara Gaw (2017)
Jean Brown,Treasurer (2018)
Amanda Venturella (2019)
LeVon Lindsey (2019)
Anna Marcel de Hermanas (2020)
​Rhea Brockhorst (2020)


Swannanoa Valley Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Corporation Bylaws here.