Martin Luther King III ignites gratitude movement with La Jolla students

On Feb. 23, more than 1,000 students heard motivational speeches from Martin Luther King III, Say It Now founder Walter Green, and others at a special La Jolla Country Day School event highlighting the importance of expressing gratitude now to those who’ve positively impacted people’s lives.

Green, author of the book “This Is The Moment,” launched the Say It Now movement stressing how expressing gratitude to those significant in our lives solidifies relationships and eliminates the prospect of having regrets for not having done so.

The gala production included a choir performance. Joining LJCD students at 9490 Genesee Ave. were student guests from Monarch School serving unhoused students, and The Preuss School UC San Diego, which offers a college preparatory curriculum for sixth- to 12th-grade low-income students whose family members have never attended college.

Opening remarks at the celebratory event were delivered by Colleen O’Boyle, assistant LJCD Head of School for Academic Affairs, and Jameel McDaniel, along with comments from MC and LJCDS student Ava Mendoza.

Student speakers expressing their gratitude to those meaningful in their lives included: Jaden Mangini (LJCDS), Fabian Garcia from The Preuss School, Harper Goff (LJCDS), and Mahlia Washington (LJCDS). Zora North read Amanda Gorman’s poem “Talking Gets Us There.”

“I have a finding I want to gift to you,” Green told students about Say It Now and its mission. “What you’re going to hear is a new idea relevant to all ages, but particularly relevant to change leaders who are youth. It’s a message that can change your life and the lives of people who are really important to you. And the more you do it – the happier you are.”

Continued Green: “I hope you’re inspired by the message. And even more importantly, you will become an ambassador and spread this message to many others. It’s customary to honor someone and pay tribute to them when they are no longer here. The person being honored never hears the message. And then we are left wishing we’d said it. That makes no sense. Say It Now is a movement to inspire you to express gratitude to people who’ve been important to you while they are alive and well.”

Green proceeded to ask the crowd if there was someone who has been important to them and is still alive. Nearly everyone raised their hands. To which Green replied: “Say It Now is for you.”

Green introduced MLK III, the oldest son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, characterizing him as “a thought leader on the world stage, a peacemaker, and a negotiator of some of today’s most critical national and international platforms for social change.”

“Spread the word, have you heard, all across the nation, we are going to be a great generation,” said MLK III, three times, in introducing himself to students. “It is an honor to have seen students from this community actually share gratitude for what is going on in their lives. Any of us can do this: just saying it right now.”

Pointing out there were “so many people in my life who helped me through very difficult times, losing a father at 10 years old 55 years ago,” King added, “all of us at some point have to go through that (losing loved ones). I’m glad to have had people in my life who helped me navigate through those difficult times.”

Addressing ongoing racism, King said, “I, like many African-American children, was exposed to racism. We must build our lives on a strong foundation. And always retain a sense of gratefulness and gratitude, and always be willing to share that gratitude. We as a human species must do better. And that is why we must say it now.”

Concluded King: “Sixty years ago my father delivered a speech titled ‘I Have A Dream.’ In 2023, we’re still unfortunately dealing with racism. Dad talked about the triple evils of poverty, racism, and violence, and eradicating them from our nation and our planet. What I know is that it only takes a few good women and men to bring about change. I know that we, as a community, can make our nation and world better. And so, I want to challenge you to be your best selves. You’ve just got to be the best at what you are. That is the challenge. We must become a better nation. And we can become even better by saying it now.”

Say It Now recently launched a year-long initiative to empower 1 million expressions of gratitude and is providing free resources at justsayitnow.org to help guide people of all ages through a transformative gratitude journey.