Springfield celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day, examines economic disparity.

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The event held at Clark State’s Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center every Friday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day reminded attendees that there is still a gap in wages in the minority community and therefore King’s dream has not been completely fulfilled.

“Springfield is a very diverse community,” Springfield Community Development Director Shannon Meadows said. “We are diverse within our ethnicities, within our religion and we are also very diverse within our economics. Today was perfectly placed to remind us as leaders and active citizens in the community that’s it’s not just about varying ethnicity. But it is also to be reminded about our different economic and social-economic status within our community and that we really have to commit ourselves to meeting people where they are and walking along the path with them and working towards a greater tomorrow.”

Keynote speaker Marya Rutherford Long, vice president, community and economic development manager at Fifth Third Bank, spoke about what the banking industry is doing to ensure members of disadvantaged communities — of all races — are getting an equal shot at obtaining capital to start small businesses.

She said her dream is for all people to have equal opportunities at getting out of poverty and into the middle class.

READ: MLK Day to be celebrated through Springfield area events

Meadows said the luncheon allows the community to come together.

“It’s a good time of just commune and fellowship among leaders and citizens and the spirit lifts in the room as soon as the music starts to play,” she said. “It’s a time to fill our souls and revive ourselves as we continue forth on all of our paths.”

Along with honoring King, local high school students were also recognized for their role as Peacekeepers in their high schools. Clark State and the City of Springfield started the Peacemaker program in the 1980s. The City of Springfield gives each Peacemaker a motivational book selected by John Young of Wittenberg University.

The students received the award for demonstrating the teachings and the spirit of King, Meadows said.