Lawrence Garrett looked out at a crowd of about 100 people.

Quoting Michelle Obama, he shouted “When they go low, we go…”

“High!” the audience shouted back.

“When they go low, we go high – every time,” Garrett said. “Every time.”

The Advancing Leadership CEO was among speakers Superintendent Tammy Campbell, Mayor Jim Ferrell, Diversity Commission Chair Greg Baruso and many others at the sixth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day event at Todd Beamer High School on Monday.

Garrett’s message of taking the high road during a time when people’s political views are clashing was bolstered by his message of finding truth in diversity of perspective and encouraging social entrepreneurship.

“We have to get back to the message, the mission of what Dr. King was,” Garrett said, referring to King’s encouragement of peaceful advocacy and unity over anger and violence during a time of racism, segregation and injustice. “He sat on the moral high ground.”

Ferrell’s message was similar.

“Often times in our life, the only thing we have control of is our attitude,” Ferrell said. “A positive attitude can be the difference between success and failure.”

Referring to King’s incarceration in the Birmingham, Alabama, jail, Ferrell said King still managed to preach patience despite people of faith speaking out against him and his actions of promoting justice.

In his last speech before he was assassinated on April 4, 1968, King said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Campbell said it’s also important to recognize work remains to be done.

“In recent months, we have seen polarization and stereotyping that has reminded us of the importance to be diligent in promoting the world in which each of us can show up just as we came into the world with our unique and diverse footprint — still human, still beautiful and still worthy,” she said.

Campbell recalled growing up in Louisiana as a great student with an appetite for learning. She was optimistic about her future.

“Yet, at every turn there were overt and covert messages given to me by the media and the community outside of my family and schools that implied somehow I wasn’t as good as white girls or white boys,” she said. “I remember thinking how could an aspect of me that I was born with somehow be used to infer that I was less than.”

She said every day a baby is born of different skin tones, genders, talents and possibilities, so it is “illogical and nonsensical that the very diversity of what makes us human” continues to be the basis for “discrimination and unearned advantage.”

Campbell challenged the community to promote diversity throughout the workforce, in friendships and at home. She asked, “How many of you have the kind of people in your life that reflect the potpourri that is in our community, or are you a single flower – a single type?

“We have to engage in real conversations with people who don’t look and live like us,” she said. “We have to learn from their perspective and advocate for a community in which all people thrive.”

Folded throughout the event, students from Todd Beamer High School sang, played drums, performed traditional Chinese dragon dances, recited poetry and played in a mariachi band.

Also at the event, for the first year, the Diversity Commission, city officials and Federal Way Public Schools board members presented the Representative Roger Freeman Memorial Award to student Alyssa Tran.

Late-Rep. Freeman, who served on the Diversity Commission and Federal Way City Council, was instrumental in bringing the Martin Luther King Jr. Day event back to the city and secured funding for future events before he died in October 2014.

Tran’s essay explained how Freeman’s characteristics and core values, which include justice, diversity, compassion and integrity, applied to her life and she will utilize them in her future.

Diversity Commission Chair Greg Baruso with Superintendent Tammy Campbell. RAECHEL DAWSON, the Mirror

Superintendent Tammy Campbell speaks at the sixth annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event in Federal Way. RAECHEL DAWSON, the Mirror

Alyssa Tran is the first to win the Representative Roger Freeman Memorial Award. RAECHEL DAWSON, the Mirror

A student sings during the sixth annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event held at Todd Beamer High School. RAECHEL DAWSON, the Mirror

Mayor Jim Ferrell speaks at the sixth annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event in Federal Way. RAECHEL DAWSON, the Mirror

Students perform a Chinese dragon dance. RAECHEL DAWSON, the Mirror

Advancing Leadership CEO Lawrence Garrett speaks at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event. RAECHEL DAWSON, the Mirror