The Connection

Photo by Mercia Hobson

Tammi Petrine, Community Activist, Reston for 42 years: "I was a huge fan of Martin Luther King Jr. as a young person in high school. My political science teacher had said, ‘the greatest fan Martin Luther King had.’ His non-violent change model is the epitome of humanity. It's being one family is where we want to be. We cannot allow parts of our society to be impotent. Their strength and talents are needed to make our world function."

Paul Thomas, Reston Community Center, Reston: "We live in a time when many people live in echo chambers. Divisiveness is a common strategy that feeds political, social, and economic ends. Dr. King's dream is a reminder to break down barriers. We must listen, watch, care, and help. Just a few years ago, it felt like progress was happening, but now we know there is a lot of work to do."

David Roach, Retired Teacher, Annandale: "After what I consider great advancement in race relations, things are going backward. Dr. King's dream of one society has taken a step back. I personally believe that the younger generation is wonderful as far as the dream. Older people seem unable to accept his thought. I hope that younger people will embrace Dr. King's dream and stop listening to the ideas of a past time. It is hard for some people to accept the idea of white privilege and we must work to overcome that for the future of our society."

Nancy D. Hall, former higher education administrator, Annandale: “It is more important than ever that we adhere to the tenets of Dr. King. Social justice for all. Dignity for all. Equal voice. A place at the table. Every day now brings a fresh assault on our community's sense of fairness and what is right."

Betty Collins, Real Estate Agent, Long and Foster, Sterling: "At the present, I think we are back in the ’60s when Martin Luther King, Jr. was tired of the injustice and started the marches. I have seen more people who now understand the unjust acts that were imposed on those who felt they could not make a change. We still need to understand that we all want the same things in life and we all have to live with love for one each other. 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' Dr. King fought for equality. Thanks for women today who are standing up for equality."

Photo by Mercia Hobson

Eliza Seigel, high school student, McLean: "With the increasingly polarized times that we live in, sometimes it feels like the differences between one another are becoming more decisive. With every political and social event that has happened these past years both locally and nationally that was meant to divide us or separate us, there have been reactions that brought all kinds of people from all walks of life together. With every event like what happened in Charlottesville, there was a community that came together to say that hatred and violence are intolerable and we must progress to make the world a better place. That community in the aftermath brought people together, and in that particular sense, Dr. King's dream is very much alive."

Photo by Mercia Hobson

Laura Warrington, student, Great Falls: Since Dr. King's time, there has been much progress in our society, especially in Northern Virginia, which has become a diverse and welcoming community. However, there are still instances that make me think my country is taking a step backward. Like the march in Charlottesville. I think Reston, in particular, has maintained its welcoming position through difficult times in the past year and serves as an example of Dr. King's dream for other communities to follow."