Photo by Unseen Histories on Unsplash
(FLINT, Mich., Dec. 5, 2022) – The 44th Annual Citywide Tribute Dinner honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will be Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 at the Genesys Banquet Center in Grand Blanc. Centered on the theme “Grace & Perseverance Under Pressure,” this year’s keynote address will be given by Jimmie Gardner, motivational speaker, social justice activist and emotional intelligence coach.
The dinner celebration, scheduled to start at 6 p.m., is open to the public. Tickets are $50 per person. Event sponsorships are available for $400 and admit 8 individuals. Guests have the option to attend in-person or virtually, pre-registration is required to attend at: www.mcceventsonline.com or by calling The Foundation for Mott Community College at (810) 762-0425. To order tickets via mail, please make checks payable to the MLK Tribute Dinner and mail to: The Foundation for Mott Community College, 1401 E. Court St., Flint, MI 48503.
The 2023 Tribute Dinner, presented each year by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Planning Committee, is co-sponsored by Baker College, Flint Jewish Federation, Hamilton Community Health Network, Kettering University, Mott Community College and the University of Michigan-Flint. For more information, please call (810) 762-0425.
The Keynote Speaker
Jimmie C. Gardner is a motivational speaker, social justice activist and emotional intelligence coach. He draws on the values and life lessons acquired throughout his childhood, professional baseball career and wrongful conviction, to inspire others to thrive despite life’s challenges. His ability to endure life circumstances demonstrates the transformative power of faith, self-awareness and positive thinking.
Growing up in Tampa, Florida, he was a member of the famed Belmont Heights Little League Team and trained with the likes of Dwight Gooden, Gary Sheffield, Derek Bell, Carl Everett, Vance Lovelace Floyd Youmans and Ty Griffin. The Belmont Heights Little League organization went to the Little League World Series four times. Gardner graduated from the academically competitive Tampa Bay Vocational Technical High School and was drafted by the Chicago Cubs soon after. Gardner played in the minor leagues for 4 seasons, while studying business management at Tampa College during the off-season.
In 1989, Gardner was arrested, extradited to West Virginia and charged with sexual assault, robbery, burglary, and assault during the commission of a felony. He was acquitted for one charge and convicted for the other—despite evidence that the same person committed both crimes. He was sentenced to 110 years.
While in prison, Gardner continued to pursue his education, earning three associates degrees and numerous certificates. He taught himself the law and worked to secure his freedom while serving as a representative for other prisoners during their legal proceedings.
In 2016, after 27 years, the court vacated the conviction and he was released from custody. Since his release, he has been sharing his story with the sole purpose of becoming a voice for the voiceless. One of his passions is the development of Gardner House, a reentry home designed to help formerly incarcerated citizens gain access to the resources necessary to make a successful return to society.
He is now married, and in June 2022, graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Chapman University.
Mott Community College is a place of purpose and possibility. Mott is committed to excellence in education and offering services that cultivate student success and improve the overall quality of life in a multicultural community. With almost 100 academic and occupational degree programs, Mott helps students prepare for an ever-changing world. Through university transfer agreements, high-demand associate’s degree programs and one-year certification programs, Mott helps ensure that all its students find their path.
