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The national call for increased civil discourse and respect for selfless service was heard loud and clear Monday at the annual ringing of the Liberty Bell in tribute to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

Hundreds joined the MLK Jr. Commission of the N.C. Human Relations Commission in downtown Raleigh on the Bicentennial Plaza to “let freedom ring.” It was gratifying to see so many people, and especially so many youth, gather to raise their voices in unity and hope for a better future.

It was inevitable that participants used the moment to reflect on the growing tensions over civil discourse, the Tuscon shootings and the passing of Ralph Campbell Jr., Raleigh’s beloved civil rights advocate. As Dr. King knew so well, challenging times can pull us apart or bring us together. It was evident in the spirit of those assembled that they actively chose the latter.

It is my prayer, after all of the MLK marches, speeches, singing, breakfasts and photo ops that have taken place, that we not allow all of this positive energy to fade with the weekend’s formal observances, but rather grow into a daily exercise of respect.

An opportunity to do just that will occur from 9-10 p.m. today on OPEN/net. Please join Dr. Dumas Harshaw Jr., Chairman of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission and pastor of First Baptist Church in downtown Raleigh; Dr. Ronald McElrath, Chairman of the N.C. Human Relations Commission and the Fayetteville-Cumberland Human Relations Commission, and me to talk about how you can help to improve the quality of life for North Carolina residents through the promotion of equal rights, mutual understanding and respect among all people.

Just in time to brighten holiday celebrations, the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission announced 14 grants to create or strengthen programs that support the legacy of Dr. King.

The $2,500 grants, two each for the seven regions served by the commission, which is housed under the N.C. Human Relations Commission, were given with a special emphasis on pograms that benefit youth.

Grantees will be recognized at a reception following the Annual State Employees’ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observance Program, to be held at noon on Jan. 14 in the First Baptist Church, located at 101 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh.

The Commission received 55 applications this year. Congratulations to the following nonprofits selected to receive the MLK grant awards:

• Brevard Middle School of Transylvania
• United Way of Haywood County Inc.
• Gotodad Inc. of Fayetteville
• HOLLA! (Helping Our Loved Ones Learn and Achieve) Community Development Corp. of Anson County
• City of Salisbury Parks and Recreation
• Clinton's Corner of Catawba County
• Dubs & Above Car & Truck Club of Wilson
• Franklin-Granville-Vance Smart Start Inc.
• YWCA of the Greater Triangle
• Lenoir-Greene County Partnership for Children
• ZECA Inc.  (Zero to Eighteen Education Concept Academy) of  Onslow County
• Cornerstone United Church of Christ of Davidson County
• Native American Studies Academy, UNC-Charlotte
• Outreach Development Inc. of Guilford County

It’s easy to say that community organizations should encourage youth and sponsor activities that support the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. While most are eager to embrace the dream, the fact is that many cash-strapped agencies lack the funds to convert such plans into action.

That is why the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission is offering grants of up to $5,000 each to non-profit organizations in seven regions across North Carolina to create or strengthen community-based programs.

As stated by Dr. Dumas A. Harshaw Jr., Chairman of the MLK Commission, “There is a great need for quality services for at-risk students and those who need guidance to make use of their abilities. We stand ready to support qualified non-profits that will work hard to reduce the drop-out rate, increase voter registration and embrace opportunities to strengthen their communities.”

Interested non-profits should use the application form on the Human Relations Commission website to apply for funding. Project examples include, but are not limited to: youth programs to enhance race relations; voter education and registration; reducing the high school drop-out rate; literacy programs (including essay contest); anti-gang activities; leadership training; and promotion of cultural arts.

Applications must be postmarked no later than March 5, and awards will be announced by April 9. If you have questions, please call the Human Relations Commission at 919-807-4420.

The 2010 Census is being promoted with a simple message: 10 questions in 10 minutes.

Unfortunately, history shows that it’s just not that simple to convince folks to take those 10 minutes, even when they’re told that each uncounted resident could cost North Carolina about $1,000 each in potential federal funding.

That’s why I’ve joined a group of legislators, educators and community leaders to reach out to our citizens in a series of Complete Count Census Forums. This week we gathered in Robeson County, and we’ll hold additional meetings in other historically undercounted areas.

My message focuses on what citizens give up by ignoring this essential count. Those who choose to not participate in the Census impact entitlement to programs designed to benefit their communities. In other words, miscounting the population could unconstitutionally deny minority groups’ political representation or protection under the Voting Rights Act. It also could deny local jurisdictions grant funds from federal programs.

The Census Bureau has taken steps to simplify the form, increase local resources and hire multilingual census takers who can reach out to hard-to-count population groups, reducing the inherent delays and costs in making multiple callbacks to non-responding households.

This endeavor also creates quality job opportunities for North Carolinians, whose hard work will result in a more accurate count of our residents and fair-share funding for necessary programs. I encourage everyone to get involved and get counted.  It truly matters – not just today, but for how we grow and prosper over the next 10 years.

When he stood before thousands in Washington, D.C., on that legendary August day in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “There will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, ‘My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.’”

In answering the call to “let freedom ring … from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city,” the N.C. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission was joined by a large and diverse crowd Monday morning during our annual bell-ringing ceremony at the Bicentennial Plaza.

Led by MLK Commission Chairman Dr. Dumas Harshaw, we gathered beside the Liberty Bell replica to proclaim the fundamental importance of freedom in our own lives, in our state, our nation and our world. Many in the group carried signs urging renewed focus on Dr. King’s attention to the insensitivity, injustice and inequality that curtails freedom and happiness throughout society.

While the Commission’s actions are symbolic, they have tremendous potential. We thank those who joined us – as well as all of you who paused to ring a bell outside of your home or business to show that you, too, cherish the value of democracy, diversity and equal opportunity.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s recent announcement that the Obama Administration is stepping up its efforts in traditional civil rights was music to my ears.

This is very encouraging to the N.C. Human  Relations Commission in that the federal agency has identified fair housing and increased awareness of anti-discrimination as key issues. These are our key areas as well, and the very reason why we have completely reorganized.

Since I became Executive Director in June, the Commission has been engaged in process improvement and staff training to enhance the efficiency with which our cases are managed. Training for landlords, big and small, is a top priority.

We also need to help our renters understand that sometimes they are in the wrong. Some cases are borderline and are found to be without cause. But then there are others where there is cause and we tried to reach an accord, a conciliation. That, and not litigation, is always our goal.

As former Director of the Robeson Human Relations Commission – and still a pastor and member of the local school board – I believe the time is right for healing and restoring trust in Human Relations agencies.

We have a responsibility to provide direction, counsel and resources to assist folks who seek resolution of their concerns. We are taking steps to better educate the community about the laws and what we can do for those who believe they have been discriminated against.