Action News Jax is honored to highlight young people in the community living out the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through our annual MLK "Live the Dream" contest.
Throughout December, local students were encouraged to submit a 60-second video and application answering the question: What can young people do to bring about social change in their local communities?
The winner, Brandon Griggs, will cohost the City of Jacksonville's MLK Breakfast with Action News Jax anchor Tenikka Hughes on Friday, Jan 18.
Winner Brandon Griggs is a student at Robert E. Lee High School who is actively involved in his school and local community. Griggs, a member of the Robert E. Lee High School EVAC Movement, is one of 25 teens in the nation selected to serve on the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Youth Advisory Board. He is also head secretary of the Mayor's Young Leaders Advisory Council, a member of the Jacksonville City Council Task Force on Safety and Crime reduction, a volunteer at the ACLU, a member of the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth, and a mentor for the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project. In addition to these achievements, Brandon has a 4.0 GPA and is enrolled in the early college program at his school. His video submission highlighted how speaking out has allowed him to take an active role as a teen ambassador.
The runner up is Mia Uzzell, a senior at Darnell-Cookman High School. Uzzell has many roles at school, including president of Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society, member of Key Club Community Outreach Program, and co-coordinator of DC SoMA'S Annual Multicultural Extravaganza. She is also an ambassador of Girl Scouts of America and involved in Jacksonville's African American Brain Brawl and the Mayor's Youth Leadership Advisory Council. Her video encouraged Jacksonville youth to get actively involved in the political process to bring about social change.
Clayton R. Senior III is the first runner up. Senior is a student at First Coast High School, where he plays varsity football and varsity basketball. In addition to being a student athlete, Senior is also a member of National Honor Society and 5000 Role Models. He has volunteered at the Sulzbacher Center, Eastside Community Church's Festival for Special Needs Kids, Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville, and UNF'S Youth Sports and Fitness Camp. His video encouraged viewers to put their phones down and go make a real world connection.
The MLK Breakfast celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. You can purchase tickets by clicking here.