Jacksonville, FL
14th Annual Dr. MLK Oratorical Competition
Event Details
The Upsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. will host the 14th Annual MLK Oratorical Competition on February 12th, 2022 at the University of North Florida's University Center. Tickets are $30, which includes breakfast and proceeds will support scholarships and future charitable activities for the Upsilon Lambda chapter. Tickets can be purchased from the below link:
https://www.greenvelope.com/event/2022MLKOratorical
Contact Bro. Austin Franklin with any questions or concerns at (904) 521-1091.
MLK Oratorical Master of Ceremony
About Mr Ken Jefferson
Equal access to housing and healthcare have always been important to Ken Jefferson. One of seven children, he was born and raised in Jacksonville and at the age of twelve, became homeless when his family lost their home. Despite weeks of living in their station wagon, he attended school each day before eventually moving to the Washington Heights housing projects. It was there that he saw the effects of crime on under served communities.
He also witnessed both of his parents face significant health obstacles as they navigated chronic heart conditions and the challenges of getting needed resources through Medicare. He was also greatly impacted when his brother suffered a massive heart attack and died suddenly at the age of 50.
Emmy Award nominated, Ken has a longstanding decorated career of both community and professional service and can be seen daily as the trusted Crime and Safety Expert on News4Jax WJXT TV 4 – The Local Station, providing expert law enforcement perspective and tips on crime prevention. He’s conducted workshops and seminars on self-empowerment across the U.S. and addressed issues from communication and coalition building to safety for children and senior adults. He’s been called as an Expert Witness, testifying to render expert opinions on various issues, and has appeared on numerous television crime shows aired nationally.
He spent 24 years with the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office, five of which as the face and voice of the agency as its public information officer. He’s been a patrol officer, and held leadership roles as a field training officer, administrative detective in the Inspections and Accreditation Unit, academy staff instructor, burglary detective, sex crimes detective and police recruiter. Additionally, he served as a federal program director in charge of the Drug Education for Youth program, which involved training, teaching and mentoring targeted at-risk youth. During his tenure, the program received national accolades as one of the best in the nation, recognized by the U.S. Congress and the Department of Justice.
Ken’s many awards and accolades include honors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and receiving the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for his outstanding contribution to our nation’s communities through unselfish dedication and leadership. In 2002, he received a lifesaving award after rescuing three young girls from a car submerged in a retention pond following an accident. In 2018, he was recognized by the Jacksonville City Council for his years of public service and most recently he received the Bob Hayes Special Community Service Award.
He is the former Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Justice Coalition and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Operation Save Our Sons. He is a member of the Providence School Board of Directors, the Keiser University Advisory Board, the Changing Homelessness Board of Directors, and the Rhoda L. Martin Cultural Center Board of Directors. He is a graduate of Leadership Jax (2014) and Lifework Leadership and holds a master’s degree in Theology and an Honorary Doctorate Degree from St. Thomas Christian University. He also is the recipient of an Honorary Doctoral Degree from Jacksonville Theological Seminary.
He and his wife Rhonda have five children and one grandson. They have been members of Impact Church for over 19 years.
MLK Oratorical Keynote Speaker
About Mr Ramon Alexander
State Representative Ramon Alexander is recognized as one of the state’s rising political leaders and consistently uses that platform to be a voice for the voiceless. Ramon Alexander is a fifth-generation Floridian, son of Lorenzo and Cherry Alexander, a proud family man and unabashed servant of the people.
While in college, he found his passion for public service. Ramon served as the FAMU Student Body President and Student Senator President where he along with other students and members was instrument in organizing the historic March for Justice for Martin Lee Anderson, successfully leading a 36-hour sit-in at the Governor Office in 2001 and he spearheaded efforts to establish the Florida Access and Diversity Commission and legislature support for the lowest tuition increase in the State history.
Upon graduating from Florida A&M University, Alexander founded and developed Distinguished Young Gentlemen of America, Inc. (DYG) to effectively address the Minority Male High School Dropout Rate and Juvenile Crime Rate in Gadsden, Jefferson, and Leon Counties. Distinguished Young Gentlemen has impacted the quality of life of thousands of young people and their families throughout North Florida, effectively preparing the next generation of local, state, and national leaders.
Ramon served as Community and External Affairs Aide to the Mayor of Tallahassee from 2007 to 2010. In 2009, the Tallahassee Democrat Editorial Board named Alexander one of Named Top 25 Most Influential People in the Capital City; he was the youngest person in the Capital City to receive this recognition. National and state leaders recruited Alexander in 2010 to lead statewide voter engagement program to build and sustain voter capacity for the 2012 re-election campaign of President Barack Obama.
Never forgetting the impact that leadership and service made on the lives of those around him, Ramon ran for the Florida House of Representatives to represent District 8 (Leon and Gadsden) and was elected in November 2016. He has a record of championing issues relating to criminal justice, economic development, and higher education. He served as the House Minority Leader from 2018-2022 and elected for Leader Designate 2022-2024.
A leader amongst his colleagues, Rep. Alexander’s committee membership includes: Appropriations, Careers & Competition Subcommittee, Criminal Justice Subcommittee, Environment, Agriculture and Flooding Subcommittee, Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, Joint Committee on Public Counsel, Joint Legislative Budget Commission, Judiciary Committee and Post-Secondary Education and Lifelong Learning Subcommittee.
Over the years, Ramon has been recognized for his many contributions. He was named Volunteer of the Year for Civic Service by the Tallahassee Democrat (2012) and awarded the prestigious National Jefferson Award for Public Service in Washington D.C. Leadership Tallahassee and the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce named Alexander a Leadership Pacesetter Award Finalist (2013).
Ramon is a third-generation FAMUAN and is a recipient of a B.S. from the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and M.S. from the University of Central Florida. Just as family was a great influence in the beginning of his life, it continues to impact him now with his own family. Ramon is married to Dr. Taniyah Alexander and they have been blessed with two children McKenzie and Miles.
Oratorical Photo Gallery
