City announces 2016 Young Dreamers’ Awards
Photo by Todd Luck
Douglas Richburg and Michelle Martinez hold their 2016 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Young Dreamers’ Awards shortly after receiving them during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
Chronicle Staff Report
The City of Winston-Salem Human Relations Commission announced the 2016 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Young Dreamers’ Award recipients during the City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
To be considered for the award, recipients must have made a tangible difference in the lives of others who may have otherwise been overlooked, ignored, or disadvantaged. They must also show tangible results from their civic or community-oriented work.
The 2016 recipients are:
* Michelle Martinez. Michelle was born in Acapulco, Mexico and moved to the United States in 2001. She dedicates her time to serving others while continuing her education at Winston-Salem State University. She serves on the board of H.O.P.E. (Help Our People Eat), organized the H.O.P.E project for the Hope Community Church extension, and organized a team of interpreters for the annual health fair, as well as working with the dental bus. She works with volunteers every Saturday to prepare 355 lunches to be served to children in need in Forsyth County. She is an extraordinary young adult who gives daily to our community.
* Douglas Richburg. Douglas is a student at Forsyth Technical Community College in the Business Administration program, where he also received his GED. He has volunteered to help feed the homeless, load and unload delivery trucks for Second Harvest Food Bank, and visit nursing homes to bring joy to residents who were without regular visitors. Douglas embodies the ideals of MLK through his compassion and generosity, has proven his determination to succeed, and encourages others to reach their goals.
The purpose of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Young Dreamers’ Award is to recognize one male and one female outstanding emerging or proven young adult leader who lives in the City of Winston-Salem and who has produced a meaningful result in community inclusiveness and race relations. The goal is to encourage young adults to participate in philanthropic, altruistic community involvement that is in the spirit of how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lived and encouraged others to live.
