Astoria — The Lower Columbia Diversity Project offers a presentation on “Don’t Let Go! – Keeping the Dream Alive” with Kathleen Saadat from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16 at the Judge Guy Boyington Building, located at 857 Commercial St. The presentation is free and open to the public.

Saadat was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in a family committed to justice and education. She graduated from Reed College in 1974, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology.

In 2012, Saadat retired as manager of diversity and affirmative action for the city of Portland. She has continued to work as a private consultant and trainer in the areas of human diversity, organizational development and as a motivational speaker.

Saadat has received lifetime achievement awards from Portland PFLAG Black Chapter and Portland’s Equity Foundation, a Civil Liberties Award from the Oregon Chapter of the ACLU, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Arts Foundation in recognition of her contributions and efforts to “keep living the dream” of Martin Luther King Jr.

Saadat’s interest remains in the concern for social and economic justice, issues about what happens to our children, and issues of peace.

This presentation is made possible in part by a grant from the McKenzie River Gathering Foundation.

On Monday, Jan. 19, the Lower Columbia Diversity Project invites the community to meet at the corner of 12th and Commercial streets at 5:30 p.m. and join in a candlelight walk honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The walk will take participants through downtown Astoria ending at Peace Lutheran Church where there will be a free soup dinner and a short program in the Fellowship Hall.

For more information, call 503-325-1895 or email lcdiversityproject@gmail.com