Dade City issues proclamations for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and human‑trafficking awareness

At the Jan. 14 meeting the commission read two proclamations and invited local organizers and advocates to the dais.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: The commission read a proclamation recognizing Jan. 20, 2025 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Dade City and promoted a parade scheduled for Saturday at 10:00 a.m., beginning at Cox Elementary School and concluding at the old Pasco County Courthouse with a short prayer service; a celebration/service at St. John Missionary Baptist Church was scheduled for Monday, Jan. 20 at 11:00 a.m. The commission cited the national holiday and local committee work; Sephora Burns, chair of the local MLK committee, told the commission the program will emphasize community service and nonviolence.

Human trafficking awareness: The commission read a proclamation declaring January 2025 as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month and Jan. 11 as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Dade City. The proclamation referred to statistics and local partnership work and recognized the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking and the Dade City Police Department for local efforts. Laura Henderson, who identified herself as a survivor, advocate and vice chair and survivor representative for the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking, addressed the commission and said survivor-led, survivor‑informed work is essential. "The survivor's voice is the most important," Henderson said, and thanked the city and the police department for support.

Ending: Both proclamations were read into the record and the commission thanked participating volunteers and committee members. The MLK parade and the Monday service were publicly announced in the meeting as upcoming community events.