On Thursday, January 22, the Venture Together community gathered for our annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, bringing together staff, community members, leaders, and the people we support, to honor Dr. King’s enduring legacy. The event focused on the themes deeply rooted in Venture—compassion, empathy, and courage through kindness.
Throughout the event, speakers reminded us that Dr. King’s teachings are not confined to history, but are lived every day through how we care for one another. We were honored to hear from Rev. Dr. Brandon D. McLauchlin, Dr. Dana Stilley, ABC Committee Chair and Board Member, Lisa Kirrane, Chief Human Resources Officer, and Celia Solomita, Chief Executive Officer, whose reflections spoke to the responsibility we share to lead with humanity and heart.
In her remarks, Celia captured the spirit of the day, sharing:
“Our mission—to partner with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the pursuit of joyful and fulfilling lives—is deeply rooted in our community’s empathy through leadership. We are called to listen, to understand, and to respond with humanity and respect. It requires courage, not through confrontation, but rather through kindness, when we face adversity against our Venture family—by showing up, speaking up, and standing alongside those we support.” - Celia Solomita, CEO of Venture Together
Music from the Samuel L. Shufford Mass Choir filled the room with moving renditions of “We Shall Overcome” and “Holy Are You Lord,” while our Venture singers closed the program with a joyful performance of “This Little Light of Mine,” harkening back to the cultural history of MLK and the Civil Rights movement.
Venture creativity was also a pillar of our celebration, with Venture individuals from day programs across the organization submitting artwork inspired by Dr. King’s teachings for the MLK Poster Contest. Every poster was a deeply admired addition to the festivities, and our winning submission, a collaborative design from Venture W.O.W., was selected by the Venture Executive Team for its depiction of Dr.King’s famous quotes.
We were proud to recognize Ashley Dawson, Residential Placement Coordinator, as Venture Together’s 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award Recipient, honoring her courage, integrity, advocacy for others, and commitment to lifting up her community in the spirit of Dr. King.
Our celebration remains a powerful expression of our community’s intention and heart, all of which shines when we come together. We are grateful to everyone who participated and helped make the day so meaningful, and extend our sincere thanks to the Congers Community Center for hosting us.
