While the ambiance was different for the 27th Annual Scottsdale Celebrates MLK Jr. Living the Dream event — a popular attraction that usually has gospel singers, a lavish dinner with clips showing Civil Rights footage in the background — the message of unity remains the same.
The gala that unites hundreds of people in Scottsdale for an evening of celebration and motivation was held virtually on Jan. 14 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Keynote speaker, Ken E. Nwadike Jr., also known as the “Free Hugs Guy,” was unable to hug those in attendance as he did in 2018 when he last spoke at the affair.
“I am not a fan of this whole virtual stuff,” said Mr. Nwadike Jr., who is known for his efforts to deescalate recurring violence on what he calls the “front line.”
