Atlanta Chapter's Annual King Day Program

January 28, 2013

 

14th Annual King Day Program at Georgia Power

 

Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013 — Georgia Power recognized and honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., at the annual King Day celebration held today at the corporate headquarters in Atlanta. 
Energy Exchange and the Atlanta Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy® sponsored the program, which featured a keynote address by Xernona Clayton, legendary civil rights leader, former television executive and the founder, president and CEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc.

Dedicated to community, humanity and promoting racial understanding for 50 years, Clayton reflected on her time working for and with Dr. King and his wife Coretta Scott King. During the civil rights movement, she worked for the Chicago Urban League and Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Dr. King.  

 “Dr. King was a man that practiced what he preached; he practiced non-violence and he preached non-violence,” Clayton said. “What an honor, privilege and blessing it was to work with this man.”    

Clayton also shared that Dr. King had a great sense of humor and was “quite a storyteller.” A wonderful storyteller in her own right, Clayton kept the attendees’ attention with her reflections on the Kings, the civil rights movement and how the hairstyle she wore back then and still today got its name, “the onion.”  

Clayton challenged the crowd to make a difference in the world. “Don’t be one of those people that just take up space here on earth.  Challenge yourself to do something that will make a difference in someone’s life.  I want to be remembered as a person that made a difference.”
 
Clayton received a standing ovation and thunderous applause upon completing her remarks.

Georgia Power President and CEO Paul Bowers presented Clayton’s foundation a donation on behalf of the company. He also reminded the crowd that Monday, Jan. 21 is both a national holiday and a Georgia Power holiday honoring Dr. King and his legacy of commitment and service.


“We are made great by how we serve,” Bowers said.  He encouraged employees to use Monday as a day to offer volunteer support to communities and organizations across the state.

 

(Portions of this article originally appeared in Georgia Power’s CITIZEN online magazine 1/17/13.  Photos by Walter Kirk III.)

 

Contact:
Cherryl Harris
404-506-6689 Phone
cmharris@southernco.com

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