Press Releases

Today we commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an American hero whose voice, vision, and legacy of leadership continue to influence the course of American history. Dr. King on occasion sacrificed his freedom and ultimately his life to ensure that all Americans are treated equally, and given the opportunity to participate fully in society and realize their dreams.

There is still much work to be done to make Dr. King’s dream a reality. As he so famously said, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” As a nation we must work to eradicate lingering disparities, such as unequal access to a good public school education and a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. In Congress, we must continue to challenge barriers to the vote and the imbalances in our criminal justice system.

As a former educator and school board member, and the founder of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, I have spent decades encouraging young boys and girls to live up to Dr. King’s ideals.

In honor of this great leader’s legacy, the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project today hosted its 23^rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Scholarship Breakfast. Each year, this event raises funds for college scholarships for deserving boys. As Dr. King also noted, “education is the road to equality.” I am extremely proud of the Role Models’ tradition of paving the way for tens of thousands of boys and young men of color and giving them the support they need to achieve their American dreams.

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a third-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Congresswoman Wilson also founded the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida’s harbors and waterways.