Gateway Technical College has named Deontrae Mayfield and the Kiwanis Club of West Racine as this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarians to recognize them for their contributions to society, their school, business or profession, as well as their dedication to volunteerism and philanthropic work.
The Humanitarians will be honored at Gateway’s 26th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, noon, Jan. 20, in the Madrigrano Auditorium of the Conference Center on its Kenosha Campus, 3520-30th Ave.
This year’s theme is “Hindsight is 20/20: Envision the Future.” Doors open at 11:30 a.m. The program will run from noon to 1:30 p.m. This year’s keynote speaker will be Katina Fuller-Scott, senior director of strategy, measurement and analysis for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee.
Deontrae Mayfield
Deontrae Mayfield is the leader of Project Restoration, an organization committed to helping Racine’s youth in a number of ways – as well as providing guidance and assistance to their families.
Mayfield has helped city youth by providing job-seeking skills, mentoring and hiring youth to provide further career development through community service. He is also a leader of the Main Project, which provides wrap-around services and financial support to best meet the needs of at-risk children and their families. Mayfield’s compassion and creative solutions to impact the city’s youth as well as other non-profit organizations has resonated with others in Racine.
His nominator says “Deontrae has that fighting spirit like Dr. Martin Luther King in a humble and direct way that embodies peace and love. He gives from his heart in hopes to make a change in the community he lives in.”
Kiwanis Club of West Racine
The inclusion of an organization that goes above and beyond to serve others was added to the Humanitarian Award entry list this year, and the Kiwanis Club of West Racine is the inaugural winner.
The group focuses on projects meeting the needs of families and children in the Racine area and have also sponsored or served on such efforts as the Senior Olympics, Special Olympics, Ascension All Saints Hospital volunteer patient drivers, Christmas lights at the Racine Zoo, food pantry drives for the needy, HALO and the Red Cross.
The group’s nominator says the Kiwanis Club of West Racine does its work “because it has a strong interest in helping the community in a selfless way, not expecting any reward – Dr. Martin Luther King always championed such involvement and giving back.”
Event to highlight the importance of family
In addition to the Humanitarian awards, Gateway will also honor Dream Keepers – the winners of the Peace Mentor, Kenosha Kindness Week and Peace Maker Awards – at the event.