Jackie Robinson Family YMCA
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human Dignity Award Breakfast
The 40thDr. Martin Luther King Jr. |
Join us as we pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His words and selfless actions continue to be an inspiration and call to action for peace with each new generation.
HUMAN DIGNITY AWARD WINNERS
Congratulations to our 2025 Human Dignity Award winner, Dr. John E. Warren and the Southeast Disaster Response Team who exemplify the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through their character and service.
The YMCA's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Dignity Award is annually bestowed upon a person who exemplifies Dr. King's work and character. The inaugural award was given to Rufus DeWitt, the first African-American executive director in our YMCA association who served at the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA in the 1960s.
2025 Keynote Speaker: Pastor Terry Wayne Brooks
The Bayview Church of San Diego
We are thrilled to announce our keynote speaker for the 40th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human Dignity Award Breakfast: Dr. Terry Wayne Brooks, better known as "Pastor T." Pastor T serves as the Senior Pastor of Bayview Church where he leads with a deep passion for faith and community. His dynamic preaching style and dedication to justice and equality have made him a highly respected leader both within his congregation and across the San Diego area.
Pastor T’s messages focus on faith, hope and justice, encouraging others to live in a way that reflects the values of Dr. King. Through his teachings, he empowers individuals to make a difference in their communities by embodying compassion, equality and service. Under his leadership, Bayview Church has grown into a vibrant hub of spiritual growth and outreach.
With a heart for the community, Pastor T has spearheaded initiatives that promote social justice and uplift those in need. His commitment to service and positive change is evident in all he does and we are honored to have him share his inspiring words at this year’s breakfast.
2025 Human Dignity Award Winners
Dr. John E. Warren
Dr. Warren is the President of Warren Communications, Inc., a distinguished African American-owned media group with community newspapers spanning the East and West Coasts. He is the publisher of the San Diego Voice & Viewpoint, a 65-year-old legal paid weekly publication, and formerly served as co-publisher of the Florida Tribune, a community newspaper that served three counties in South Central Florida for over 15 years.
A respected journalist in the San Diego community, Dr. Warren was a weekly commentator on the local NPR/PBS station for nearly a decade. He is a member and past director of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, a member of the California Newspaper Publishers Association, and a past member of the National Bar Association. His professional affiliations also include the American Society for Public Administration and the original Conference of Minority Public Administrators.
In addition to his media and professional endeavors, Dr. Warren is an ordained minister. He is the co-founder and senior pastor of Eagles Nest Christian Worship Center in San Diego, California.
Dr. Warren's career reflects a lifetime of dedication to public service, education, and community impact. He served 12 years in the U.S. House of Representatives as an assistant to prominent African American legislators, including Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr. during his chairmanship of the Education and Labor Committee, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, and Congressman Augustus F. Hawkins. As Vice President of the National Institute of Public Management, he advised the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities on Social Insurance and Income Security policies during the Carter Administration. He also co-authored a 1978 article on urban crime in Nation's Cities Magazine.
Dr. Warren was an elected member of the Washington, D.C. Board of Education for eight years and served four years as a director of the National School Boards Association, representing over 90,000 members. He was also a delegate to the Democratic Midterm Convention during the Carter Presidency. As publisher of the San Diego Voice & Viewpoint, he has written over 25 years of editorials and commentaries.
Born in Henderson, North Carolina, and raised in Washington, D.C., Dr. Warren experienced the desegregation of public schools following the Brown v. Board of Education decision. He earned undergraduate and law degrees from Howard University and completed graduate studies in Public Policy and Administration at the University of Southern California. He later became an adjunct professor at National University, where he developed a Government Contracts curriculum and taught Public Policy, School Law and Finance. He also served on the National University Board of Trustees.
Dr. Warren is a U.S. Army veteran, a graduate of the Officers' Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and holds an honorable discharge. He is a black belt in martial arts and has received numerous awards from diverse organizations.
He and his wife Dolores have five children—Michael, Latanya, Shani Thai, Chida, and Charles—and five grandchildren. In their spare time, they focus on writing their memoirs and traveling.
The Southeast Disaster Response Team (SDRT)
The Southeast Disaster Response Team (SDRT) is a coalition of eight organizations dedicated to collaboration and resilience in Southeast San Diego. Following the devastating 2024 floods, SDRT mobilized a comprehensive recovery effort that showcased the collective strength of the community through:
Donation Coordination: Received, sorted, and distributed over 300 individual donations, totaling more than 2,500 items, including bags, boxes, and large items.
Cleanup and Restoration: Organized teams to clear trash, debris, drywall, flooring, and cabinets from homes, mitigating the impact of mold within a critical timeframe.
Housing Support: Secured temporary hotel stays for 402 residents—299 adults and 103 children—within 3-4 hours, ensuring safe and dignified accommodations for up to two weeks.
Volunteer Mobilization: Coordinated 200 volunteers and staff to assist with community outreach, labor, intake, housing support and referral navigation.
Their boots-on-the-ground efforts included cleanup crews, logistical coordination, and emotional support for households forced to vacate unsafe residences. Through this work, SDRT staff and volunteers formed genuine relationships, creating a sense of safety, trust, and compassion for affected residents.
The Southeast Disaster Response Team includes: Harvey Family Foundation, Jackie Robinson Family YMCA, Pillars of the Community, The Urban Collaborative Project, JIREH Providers, Hip Hop Health & Wellness 5K, PHATCAMP, and Urban Leadership Development Institute.
THE NEXT GENERATION SPEAKS
Watch this short video featuring inspiration from our next generation.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Dream Sponsor — $20,000
- Two tables of ten guests, premier seating
- Recognition on Jackie Robinson Family YMCA social media
- Logo recognition on event banner and program
- Logo recognition on all printed materials
- Premium full page, four-color program ad (8"x10")
- Underwrite event A/V
- Free one-week pass to Jackie Robinson Family YMCA for 20 people
- Table signage
- 30-second video message to be aired on livestream and in-person — (Video due to Justin Nietes no later than December 15)
Courage Sponsor — $15,000
- One table of ten guests, premier seating
- Recognition on Jackie Robinson Family YMCA social media
- Logo recognition on event banner
- Logo recognition on all printed materials
- Premium full page, four-color program ad (8"x10")
- Underwrite event entertainment
- Free one-week pass to Jackie Robinson Family YMCA for ten people
- Table signage
- 15-second video message to be aired on livestream and in-person — (Video due to Justin Nietes no later than December 15)
Legacy Sponsor — $10,000
- One table of ten seats, preferred placement
- Recognition on Jackie Robinson Family YMCA social media
- Logo recognition on event banner and program
- Logo recognition on all printed materials
- Premium full page, black and white program high-resolution ad (8”x10”)
- Free one-week pass to Jackie Robinson YMCA for ten people
- Table signage
Freedom Sponsor — $5,000
- One table of ten seats, preferred placement
- Recognition on Jackie Robinson Family YMCA social media
- Logo recognition in event program
- Half page, black & white program high-resolution ad (8"x5")
- Free one-week pass to Jackie Robinson YMCA for ten people
- Table signage
Equality Sponsor — $2,500
- Five seats, preferred placement
- Logo recognition in event program
- Half page, black & white program high-resolution ad (8"x 5")
- Free one-week pass to Jackie Robinson Family YMCA for five people
- Table signage
Inspiration Sponsor — $1,200
- Two seats, preferred placement
- Name recognition in event program
- Quarter page, black & white program high-resolution ad (4”x 5”)
- Free one-week pass to Jackie Robinson Family YMCA for two people
- Table signage
Program Advertisement Only
- $500 - Full-page Black and White Advertisement
- Image requirements: 8" wide by 10" height at 300 dpi
- $300 - Half-page Black and White Advertisement
- Image requirements: 8" wide by 5" height at 300 dpi
- $200 - Quarter-page Black and White Advertisement
- Image requirements: 4" wide by 5" height at 300 dpi
- $150 - Eighth page, Black and White Advertisement
- Image requirements: 4" wide by 2.5" height at 300 dpi
- $50 – Single-line Name Recognition
VIEW SPONSOR PACKAGES AND AD OPPORTUNITIES
For questions on advertisements or for more information on sponsorships, email Paula Dunn at [email protected]. Deadline for artwork submission is December 15, 2024. Please send high resolution images (minimum of 300 dpi) of any file type as an email attachment to Justin Nietes at [email protected]
BE THE CHANGE CONTEST
The Jackie Robinson Family YMCA invites San Diego youth to join the 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Poetry & Art Contest and express how Dr. King's legacy inspires joy and unity within themselves and their communities. Students from grades K-12 can submit original work as art, poetry, essays, or spoken word to compete for prizes, with first-place winners earning a $100 gift card. Don’t miss this chance to share your voice and creativity! Submit your application by filling out this form below before December 13, 2024, at 8:00 pm!
2024 EVENT RECORDING
Watch the complete event video from the 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human Dignity Award Breakfast hosted by the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA and the YMCA of San Diego County on Friday, January 17, 2024.