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DALLAS and HOUSTON and CHICAGO, Jan. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ Elementary school students honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the final rounds of the Foley & Lardner MLK Jr. Oratory Competitions in Dallas, Houston, and Chicago on Jan. 15. The fourth and fifth-graders presented original speeches about how MLK Jr. s teachings can help us today.
Vivianna Serna, fourth-grader from Crespo Elementary School, recites her speech during the 25th Annual Foley & Lardner MLK Jr. Oratory Competition Jan. 15 in Houston.
Dominic Patermo, fifth-grader at Harry C. Withers Elementary, recites his speech during the 29th Annual Foley & Lardner MLK Jr. Oratory Competition Jan. 15 in Dallas.
Practicing every day leading up to the competition, he would go over the enunciations of his words clearly, slowing down so they had a stronger effect. His dad, who he said is also a good speaker, would listen and give feedback.
In his speech, Dominic explained how Martin Luther King Jr.’s teachings can help today.
“Influencers such as musicians, politicians and educators have come together to address the root causes of racism and develop a road map for a comprehensive solution,” Dominic said. “It is a journey that will take lots of hard work and effort, and we will see this through.”