The Chamber Foundation was very humbled and honored to receive the "I Have a Dream" award on January 21, at the Dr. Martin Luther King Day event sponsored by the Urban League of Battle Creek. The award was presented to us for the Battle Creek Self Employment Program, to recognize our organization and this program for helping to keep Dr. King's dream alive in Battle Creek. We were among five local organizations receiving this inaugural award.

The following is an excerpt from my acceptance speech at the awards ceremony:

It is my pleasure to be here on behalf of the Chamber, our foundation, our Boards of Directors and staff, and especially our Battle Creek Self Employment Program.

As we celebrate Martin Luther King Day, and especially Dr. King's message of freedom, equality and justice for all, we remember his speech of having a DREAM. When we created the self employment program in 2006, our dream was to alleviate poverty in our community by creating self employment opportunities for our citizens.

Our 72 graduates are living this dream and passing it on to our fellow citizens, creating a better future accessible to all, by creating businesses and job opportunities locally. They are facing challenges and they are creating their own destinies for themselves, their families, and our citizens.

Our theme is: we help give wings to your business dreams.

I'd like to recognize our students and graduates, our Boards, staff and volunteers, our donors and supporters, and our partner the WKKF. I'd like to ask you all to stand and be recognized.

Congratulations to our other community organizations and partners honored here tonight. Together we serve the needs of our residents - and contribute to a stronger, more vibrant community.

I especially thank our partner the Urban League for your support and for honoring us with this prestigious award tonight.

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Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce