Speech: Put dream into action

YOUNGSTOWN — Kirk Noden encouraged those attending a program celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to follow the concepts of a beloved community and discussed how the civil rights leader embraced the ideas.

Noden, a community organizer for ACTION — Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods — and the Raymond J. Wean Foundation, was the keynote speaker tonight at a community gathering at Congregation Rodef Sholom, 1119 Elm St.

Co-host was the North Side Interfaith Partnership. The event, attended by about 120 people, focused on the theme “Bringing the Dream Home: Taking Action.”

Noden said the basic concepts of the beloved community are:

UIt’s integrated. “Everyone is welcome.”

UIt’s socialist. “Everyone shares in the diversity of human personalities.”

UIt’s inclusive. “Everyone is in on the decision-making process.”

U“It’s rooted in the parenthood of God.”

UChrist-centered. “Christ is the guide.”

Noden said the beloved community concepts, which Dr. King espoused in many speeches, parallel ideas of the civil rights leader.

For the complete story, see Saturday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.