The ceremony also included the installation of Bishop Talbert Swan as the 2025 Greater Springfield NAACP President, the longest serving President in the local chapter's history. Bishop Swan was sworn in by City Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce. NAACP officers who were also sworn in by Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers.
The ceremony also included an invocation from 1st NAACP Vice President Rev. Mark A. Baymon, Sr., the performance of the Black National Anthem by the ‘Songstress of Springfield’ Vanessa Ford and Springfield Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Judi Crowell, greetings and the reading of the city's proclamation from Mayor Sarno, words from MLK Family Services Director Shannon Rudder, an MLK Address by NAACP President Bishop Talbert Swan, a youth presentation, and a benediction by NAACP 2nd Vice President Angela Thorpe. Following the installation ceremony, the annual MLK flag raising ceremony took place on the front steps of City Hall.
Mayor Sarno states, “Mayoral Aide Shenell Ford and I always look forward to joining with Representative Bud Williams, Springfield NAACP President Bishop Talbert Swan, Police Superintendent Akers, City Councilor Lavar Click Bruce, and other officials and religious leaders as our community celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day with our annual celebration and flag raising ceremony. It is important that Dr. King’s legacy lives on. Special thanks to my Mayoral Aide Shenell Ford for her efforts in helping to coordinate this annual event here at City Hall.”
State Representatives Bud Williams, Carlos Gonzalez and Orlando Ramos, City Council Vice President Tracye Whitfield, and Councilors Attorney Sean Curran, Jose Delgado, and Lavar Click-Bruce, Jesse Lederman representing US Senator Ed Markey, and a representative from state Senator Jacob Oliveira's Office were also in attendance.
The MLK Day 2025 Collaborative community event followed at the MassMutual Center.
