MLK Day event switches up format

The Owatonna Human Rights Commission will once again host an event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but with a different format than in previous years.

Instead of having one guest speaker, the commission has invited four community members to serve on a panel, answering questions from commission members.  

During the free luncheon there will also be a chance for guests to ask questions of the panelists.

“We just wanted to change things up because if the same people were attending year after year, we didn't want it to feel the same for them,” co-chair Jessica Bjore said.

Bjore also pointed to the budget reductions for the commission, which played a role in deciding to go to a different format.

Bjore said the panel will not just be about listening. Instead, people will be called on to make a difference themselves.

“There will be calls to action that people can actually act on if they are called to…it's not just about having lunch and  celebrating, it's about what we can do to better our community,” Bjore said.

Lunch will be provided free of charge for those who register with the QR code ahead of the event. The event is set to take place on Jan. 19 from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Steele County Historical Society.

Panelists will include:

Sarah Sanchez

Sarah Sanchez has lived in Owatonna since the age of four and considers the community–its families, churches, educators, and  business owners–to be an extension of her own family. She and her fiancé operate a life insurance and annuities brokerage, while raising her three teenage children and caring for elder family members.

Deeply engaged in civic life, she regularly attends city council meetings and works to share information between local leaders and residents while also assisting area nonprofits as an interpreter and board member. Sanchez is also a trained and certified member of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and is active at New Life Church.

She was invited to participate in the MLK Day panel for her willingness to step forward, speak courageously, and advocate for her fellow Owatonna citizens and the well being of the community as a whole.

Gospel Kordah

Gospel Kordah is a workforce development professional and community leader serving as the Workforce Coordinator for SteeleCoWorks in Owatonna. Originally from Nigeria, Gospel immigrated to the United States as a refugee in 1998 and has spent his life navigating and overcoming the challenges of resettlement, education, and opportunity in the American system.

Drawing from both lived experience and professional practice, Gospel works at the intersection of education, employment, and community development. He partners with schools, employers, and youth-serving organizations to create clear career pathways, expand access to internships and work-based learning, and help young people build the skills needed for long-term success. His work is focused on ensuring that all students, regardless of background, have access to meaningful opportunities that lead to stable careers and economic mobility.

Gospel is also deeply committed to equity and workforce inclusion, helping organizations better understand how barriers such as poverty, immigration, and limited access to networks impact career outcomes. Through his work with SteeleCoWorks, he continues to advocate for systems that support youth, strengthen families, and build a more inclusive local economy.

Outside of work, Gospel is a proud father of three daughters and enjoys spending time with his family. He is passionate about coaching and playing soccer and loves reading, both of which continue to shape his commitment to mentorship, discipline, and lifelong learning.

Martha Sykes

Martha Sykes (she/her) is a Florida native and first-generation Liberian-American who is committed to justice and empathy wherever she goes. Moving to Minnesota in 2021, she earned her Master of Public Health degree from the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health. Research she was doing in relation to that degree led her to meet the wonderful folks involved in Alliance for Greater Equity (AGE), an organization for which she currently serves as Vice Chair. AGE's mission is a commitment to advancing equity and building a cohesive community where unity, respect and dignity create a sense of belonging for everyone. She works for county public health in Southeast Minnesota and now lives in Minneapolis with her husband, Chad, and their two cats, Assata and Milo.

Panelist Whitney Harvey did not provide a bio.