24th annual Unity Breakfast in McCandless celebrates Dr. King

Beyond his three adult children and 11 grandchildren, Judge Dwayne Woodruff sometimes is greeted by younger folks introducing themselves as “one of your kids.”

When his wife, Joy, heard such a statement for the first time, the judge had to explain that the person was someone he met through juvenile court.

The recollection drew knowing laughs from guests attending the 24th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast at La Roche University in McCandless, a Jan. 15 event for which Woodruff served as keynote speaker.

He’s nothing but serious, though, when it comes to his long-standing efforts to steer youngsters in the right direction.

“I try to convey to them not only do I care, but I’m very interested in them, and I respect them, as well,” he said, and he enjoys hearing about the resulting success stories:

“There are kids out there who are proud to tell me how they’re doing, that they’ve been going to school, that they’re making good grades, that they’re clean. They’re drug-free. They’re playing on the school football team or they made the honor roll.”

Not every situation turns out that way, of course.

On the occasion of what would have been King’s 95th birthday, Woodruff quoted part of the Civil Rights leader’s March On Washington speech of Aug. 28, 1963: “let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.”

“In writing this speech here for today,” Woodruff said, “I wondered: Is that bell ringing? What do you think? That bell of freedom isn’t ringing yet?”

As it applies to young people, Woodruff sees considerable room for improvement.

Since his 2005 election to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, the former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback — he started practicing law while still an active player — has focused on presiding over cases in family court, bringing a strong sense of positivity to the proceedings.

“When I show kids in my courtroom that I respect them and that I’m there for them, I can see a change in their faces,” he said. “I can hear it in their voices, that they’re beginning to believe in themselves, that they can see themselves growing up and becoming successful, someone to be respected.”

He’d like others to step up with similar encouragement to help members of younger generations navigate adverse conditions that, in his opinion, are not their fault.

“When politicians, superintendents and school administrators decide it’s important to leave no child behind, but don’t make sure that they can read and write and do arithmetic, we have an adult problem,” Woodruff said.

“When we let property taxes determine who will be the best and brightest, and ignore the resulting inequities, we have an adult problem,” he continued. “And last, when we care about the right to bear arms than the right to life and fail to find common-sense resolutions to gun problems in our schools and in our communities, we have an adult problem.”

Many of the adults attending the Unity Breakfast are doing their part, including those involved with the North Hills Anti-Racism Coalition, which held a Spirit of Unity essay contest in conjunction with the event.

“Participants were asked to read Dr. King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech and reflect on that,” Sarah White, La Roche’s executive director for diversity, equity and inclusion, explained.

“Students submitted essays that talked about creating opportunities for students learning English as a second language, addressing food insecurities in their area, addressing stigmas and bullying, boosting school programs that enhance inclusion and acceptance, and tackling racism and lack of representation for underrepresented groups,” White said.

Alyssa Hunt, a Northgate High School senior, won first prize.

“In my essay, I wanted to describe how world hunger has become a very large issue, but I wanted to focus more on a smaller place, like my community, to have more people understand the severity of it,” she said at the breakfast. “Sometimes, we don’t recognize that this is happening right in front of us. So I want to spread awareness and use my resources to help solve even just a small part of this huge problem.”

Veronica Garcia, an Avonworth High School junior, was the second-prize recipient, and third prize went to Anisten Jackson, a Northgate junior attending A.W. Beattie Career Center in McCandless.

Following breakfast, guests had opportunities to participate in volunteer service activities. Among them were stuffing teddy bears for the Olive Branch, a fair-trade store in Pine that supports underserved and developing communities; creating motivational cards for students who visit La Roche’s counseling and health service; and trimming grasses at the North Hills Community Outreach’s Allison Park office.