ATLANTA (January 22, 2025) – The Martin Luther King, Jr. Advisory Council honored four new awardees at the 2025 MLK Tribute Program on January 17, 2025, commemorating the Council’s namesake and the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement. 

Governor Brian Kemp and Speaker Jon Burns delivered remarks commemorating the importance of Dr. King’s work and his lasting legacy of equal treatment and nonviolence, not just in Georgia, but across the world.  The Atlanta Boys Choir sang the National Anthem and “We Are the World” for attendees at the Georgia State Capitol. The program included an awards presentation and additional remarks from State Representative Billy Mitchell and State Senator Nikki Merritt.

The council offers four rewards annually – the Dr. Joseph E. Lowery Civil Rights Award, John Robert Lewis Lifetime Achievement Award, Rita Jackson Samuels Founder Award, and Andrew J. Young Humanitarian Award. Nominations from the public are vetted by the council. 

Each of these awards recognizes the meritorious accomplishments of Georgians, which is in line with the Council’s mission of promoting the life, legacy, and teachings of Dr. King. 

The new awardees and their respective awards are as follows:

  • Adekunbi Okeyan – Andrew J. Young Humanitarian Award
  • Dr. La Wanda Folami – Rev. Joseph E. Lowery Civil Rights Award
  • Herbert Dennard – John Robert Lewis Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Krystal Hart – Rita Jackson Samuels Founders Award

Learn more about each of these individuals below:

Adekunbi Okeyan

Princess Adekunbi Okeyan, born in Lagos, Nigeria, is the daughter of the late King and Queen of Lagos, Oba Adeyinka Okeyan and Olori Subulade Okeyan. She began her education at Ireti Primary School, Ikoyi and attended Girl’s Secondary Grammar School, Obalende, Lagos.

Princess Adekunbi pursued higher education in the United States, earning dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Finance from North Carolina A&T State University and an MBA from the University of Maryland.

She worked at several Fortune 500 companies before channeling her vision into the founding of 3rd Mile Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to community empowerment, in 2012. She is also the CEO of Deyshire Inc., a private company specializing in innovative solutions.

In addition to her roles as an entrepreneur and nonprofit leader, she is an inventor, holding a United States Patent Certificate. Princess Adekunbi is married with three children, exemplifying leadership, service, and innovation in her life.

Dr. La Wanda Folami

Dr. La Wanda Harps Folami was born in Griffin, Georgia, to Bishop Bobby Ray and Evangelist Jo Ann Green Harps. Dr. Folami attended Walter F. George High School and Paine College in Augusta, Georgia. She received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from the Church of God under Bishop Norman and has an ordination from the United Christian Church and Ministerial Association.

She continued to advance causes related to civil rights by joining the Concerned Black Clergymen of Atlanta and has worked closely with different individuals within the faith community and the civil rights movement.

Dr. Folami has served as a member of the Atlanta Regional Advisory Committee on Aging, Kappa Alpha Psi Sweetheart/Diamond, The Order of Eastern Star Modern Freemasons, Women's Empowerment of Clayton County, Clayton County Library Board of Trustees, and Unity In The Community. She also serves as ambassador for both MTS Sickle Cell Foundation, Inc. and 7 Pillars Career Academy.

She has worked in real estate and financial institutions.  She is a grandmother of three, and coaches basketball and volleyball in her free time.

Herbert Dennard

Herbert Dennard’s influence as an advocate for civil rights and equality in Middle Georgia is woven into the social fabric of Macon. After serving as a Marine in the Vietnam War, Dennard’s return home marked the beginning of a legacy of service and activism. Establishing the Afro Shop in Macon, he transformed the business into a vibrant hub where leaders and community members discussed civil rights and advocated for the Black community’s rightful place in society.

Dennard’s steadfast commitment to justice led him to play a pivotal role in organizing Macon’s first major civil rights march. Collaborating with notable figures like Dr. Joseph Lowery, Hosea Williams, and Tyrone Brooks, this march became a watershed moment in Macon’s history, igniting social change and laying the groundwork for future progress. His election to the Macon Water Authority exemplifies his fight for equal treatment. Through advocacy and legal action, he helped achieve a consent decree that ensured better opportunities and fairer treatment for Black workers – not just within the Water Authority, but across public and private sectors. His efforts contributed to a wave of progress, with Black professionals breaking barriers in police and fire departments and other critical areas of public service.

The Macon Water Authority’s decision to name a major treatment plant in his honor is a testament to the impact of his work. Dennard’s influence extends beyond governmental and industrial spheres; he works with Citizen Advocacy in Macon, an organization to champion those overlooked in society. His legacy is further cemented by founding The Georgia Informer, a publication that informed and united the community for over 25 years, continuing today with new leadership.

 

Krystal Hart

Krystal Hart is a skilled public relations strategist and founder of Sparrow Communications, leveraging over 15 years of experience to help organizations build strong community connections through storytelling and strategic communication.

She made history as the first Public Relations Manager for the City of Hinesville, serving under the city’s first black mayor from 2009 to 2016. Krystal is currently active on several boards and committees focused on leadership development, historic preservation, literacy, and Gullah Geechee culture in southeast Georgia.

A native of Sunbury, Georgia, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Florida State University and a Master of Public Administration from Savannah State University. Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys exploring new food, cultures and history with her daughters.

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About the Martin Luther King, Jr. Advisory Council

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Advisory Council was created by the Georgia General Assembly to promote the life, legacy and teachings of Dr. King. In 2011, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed the bill to create the Council whose membership is appointed by the Governor, Lt. Governor and Speaker of the House. The Council accomplishes its mission through an annual tribute program held in the state Capitol, coordinating special events marking notable events in the Civil Rights Movement, and by recognizing meritorious accomplishments by Georgians. The recognizing comes in the form of four annual awards:

The Andrew J. Young Humanitarian Award, named in honor of former Atlanta Mayor, Congressman and Ambassador to the United Nations, is given annually to a remarkable individual or organization in recognition of their pursuit of universal human rights and social justice.

The Dr. Joseph E. Lowery Civil Rights Award, named in honor of the iconic minister and founding member of the SCLC, is given annually to an outstanding individual or organization in recognition of their unwavering advocacy for leadership development in the fight for civil rights.

The John Robert Lewis Lifetime Achievement Award, named in honor of the civil rights leader and seventeen-term Congressman from Georgia, is given annually to an extraordinary public servant in recognition of their career-long commitment to support equality and education for all.

The Rita Jackson Samuels Founders Award, named in honor of the trailblazing equal rights advocate and businesswoman, is given annually to an exceptional individual or organization in recognition of their commitment to empowering women in business and in the community.