Chicago Heights School District 170 Jazz Band members (from left to right) seventh-grader DiMarius Johnson, 14; seventh-grader Aundrea Pointer, 13; and sixth-grader Xavier Branch, 12, listen as Bloom High School senior Zhana Johnson (far right) reads her essay during the city of Chicago Heights' 16th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in the council chambers Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, at 1601 Chicago Road in Chicago Heights. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Chicago resident Osei Andrews-Hutchinson gives a keynote address during the city of Chicago Heights' 16th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in the council chambers Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Ald. Wanda Rodgers sings during the city of Chicago Heights' 16th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in the council chambers Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, at 1601 Chicago Road in Chicago Heights. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Bloom High School senior Guadalupe Maria Avalos reads her essay during the city of Chicago Heights' 16th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in the council chambers Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Sixth-grader Adrian Reyes (at left), 12, performs with Chicago Heights School District 170 Jazz Band members during the city of Chicago Heights' 16th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

A crowd gathers for the city of Chicago Heights' 16th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in the council chambers Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, at 1601 Chicago Road in Chicago Heights. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Mayor David Gonzalez speaks during the city of Chicago Heights' 16th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in the council chambers Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, at 1601 Chicago Road in Chicago Heights. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media

Mayor David Gonzalez (right) poses for a photo with state Sen. Toi Hutchinson (left) at the city of Chicago Heights' 16th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in the council chambers on Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media