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MLK Day Celebration 'Just The Start' Of Building Community Across NKY Cities

Bill Rinehart
/
WVXU

Covington, Elsmere, Erlanger and Independence are planning on working together more often, and they're starting with a celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. The event features video testimony from local residents, live music and networking.

Erlanger Mayor Jessica Fette says Monday evening's program is about empathetic listening and making sure everyone feels welcome. She says that theme applies to individuals and to the individual communities.

"This is the perfect opportunity to show the communities are listening. We are understanding our diversity," Fette says.

She says the four cities have much in common, including diversity.

"We're all dealing with a lot of the same situations. Being able to have that open communication, tearing down those walls, and making sure that we're bridging that gap, where ever you are, it's all the same. We're all one Northern Kentucky community. I think there's tremendous benefit in having that viewpoint."

Fette says the Martin Luther King Junior celebration is just the first step toward more cooperation.

"I think this is just the start of something," Fette says. "This is the first time that we know of that four cities have come together to put on an event for the region. There's all kinds of opportunities moving forward. This is something that we would like to be a yearly celebration."

The Martin Luther King Junior event is at the Erlanger City Building on Commonwealth Avenue, from 6-7 p.m.

Bill Rinehart started his radio career as a disc jockey in 1990. In 1994, he made the jump into journalism and has been reporting and delivering news on the radio ever since.