Ridgefield's 25th Annual MLK Jr. Ceremony is Virtual, Honors Mark Robinson, Includes Beautiful Songs, Powerful Words

Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

For twenty-five years, Ridgefield has come together as a community to celebrate and honor the courageous civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and reflect on the ways we can make the world a better place. For the first time in history, today's event took place virtually.

Not missing a beat, First Selectman Rudy Marconi opened today's ceremony by speaking from the stage at The Ridgefield Playhouse where he announced Mark Robinson as the recipient of The Spirit of Dr. King Award. This award is given annually to a Ridgefield resident for their outstanding commitment to community service and selflessness. Marconi said about Robinson, "We all talk the talk, but few of us walk the walk. I'm proud to say that Mark Robinson, for twenty-five years, has walked the walk."

"I'd like to thank Rudy and Allison for this award. I'm both honored and humbled that they have chosen to recognize me," said Robinson. He continued, "I'm not retiring, I'll be right back here next year... I'm an activist, it's in my family and in my blood. My parents were activists and organizers, my grandfather was a community organizer his whole life. I grew up believing that I'd rather do something wrong than do nothing right."

With humble beginnings in a room at Town Hall with just a handful of people, our Town's ceremony has grown with leaps and bounds. Marconi thanked Allison Stockel, the Executive Director of The Ridgefield Playhouse for opening up the Playhouse to host the hundreds of community members, who, in years past, have gathered together for our ceremony.

The virtual event also included performances by The Ridgefield Chorale, KEYS students (including the Talmadge Hill Choir), The Phil Ramone Youth Orchestra, The Ridgefield Diwali Committee,  Poet Laureate Barb Jennes, students from A Better Chance, and actress Kimberly Wilson- who has also been a part of the entertainment every year since the first celebration.  

Thanks to Ridgefield resident Mark Robinson, the powerhouse behind this important community celebration and the recipient of today's Spirit of Dr. King Award, and much appreciation to Allison Stockel for opening up The Ridgefield Playhouse for our community celebration. While we were not able to gather in person today, we anticipate better days ahead and look forward to being together - in person - to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in 2022. 

The full celebration is available for viewing on The Ridgefield Playhouse YouTube channel (or, simply click the arrow in this post).

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