The Martin Luther King, Jr. Advisory Council honored four new awardees at the 2025 MLK Tribute Program on January 17, including a Liberty County native, commemorating the Council’s namesake and the legacy of the civil rights movement.

Governor Brian Kemp and state Speaker of the House Jon Burns delivered remarks commemorating the importance of Dr. King’s work and his lasting legacy of equal treatment and nonviolence, not just in Georgia, but across the world. The Atlanta Boys Choir sang the National Anthem and “We Are the World” for attendees at the Georgia State Capitol. The program included an awards presentation and additional remarks from state Representative Billy Mitchell and state Senator Nikki Merritt.

The council offers four rewards annually – the Dr. Joseph E. Lowery Civil Rights Award, John Robert Lewis Lifetime Achievement Award, Rita Jackson Samuels Founder Award, and Andrew J. Young Humanitarian Award. Nominations from the public are vetted by the council.

Each of these awards recognizes the meritorious accomplishments of Georgians, which is in line with the Council’s mission of promoting the life, legacy, and teachings of Dr. King.

Krystal Hart was named the recipient of the Rita Jackson Samuels Founders Award.

Hart is a public relations strategist and founder of Sparrow Communications, leveraging over 15 years of experience to help organizations build strong community connections through storytelling and strategic communication.

She made history as the first public relations manager for the City of Hinesville, serving under the city’s first Black mayor from 2009 to 2016. Hart is currently active on several boards and committees focused on leadership development, historic preservation, literacy, and Gullah Geechee culture in southeast Georgia.

A native of Sunbury, she holds a bachelor of arts in communication from Florida State University and a master of public administration from Savannah State University. Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys exploring new food, cultures and history with her daughters.

Other awardees and their respective awards are:

• Adekunbi Okeyan – Andrew J. Young Humanitarian Award

• Dr. La Wanda Folami – Rev. Joseph E. Lowery Civil Rights Award

• Herbert Dennard – John Robert Lewis Lifetime Achievement Award