Local events to celebrate King’s life
By WAYNE TOWNER, wtowner@newsandsentinel.comPARKERSBURG - Several events will be held over the next two weeks to celebrate the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed Jan. 19 in the United States.
West Virginia University at Parkerburg will hold a program honoring King's life at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the college's multipurpose room.
The keynote speaker will be Ivin B. Lee, executive director of the West Virginia Human Rights Commission. The Charleston-based quartet Angels N Harmony will perform.
The program, "One Dream, One World, One Community," is co-sponsored by the college and DuPont Washington Works. A presentation of awards to college, high school and elementary contest winners will be included in the program, with a reception to follow.
Lee became executive director of the commission in 1999. Before this appointment, she served as deputy director of corrections for the state Division of Juvenile Services. In 1995, Lee was the first female to be named police chief of Dunbar, W.Va., and the first black woman to lead a city police department in West Virginia. She was a member of the Charleston Police Department for 21 years before becoming chief of police.
Angels N Harmony began singing together in 2007 every Wednesday evening in the kitchen of St. Paul AME Church in Charleston as they prepared and served food to others.
Their gift of music rapidly became a requested "entree" on the menu. In April 2008, they decided it was time to come out of the kitchen. That is when they became "Angels N Harmony" and began performing at area churches and events.
WVU-P will be closed Jan. 19 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Marietta College will participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Feeding the Dream Challenge on Saturday.
Student Megan Mirones of Canal Winchester, Ohio, was among the first to volunteer for the program and is leading the effort.
"The MLK Day of Service is more than learning about Dr. King. We all know who he is and some of what he has done, but I think this project extends his legacy further," Mirones said. "The Day of Service is to demonstrate that Dr. King wanted people to not only accept each other but work with one another to help those who need more than acceptance. I believe that by doing a service project to improve someone else's future on the Martin Luther King holiday is what Dr. King would have done himself, rather than take the day to observe past accomplishments."
Marietta College received a $500 grant from Ohio Campus Compact to organize a local Day of Service. The Feeding the Dream Challenge will be conducted from 4 to 11 p.m. Jan. 17.
Renee Steffen, Campus & Community Collaboration Leader/AmeriCorps VISTA, said the common goal for the Challenge is to encourage high school and college-age students to work together to raise as much money and collect as many non-perishable food items at they can in a 90-minute competition-style service project. All money and food collected will go to the Marietta Community Food Pantry.
Joining Marietta College in hosting the day's events are the Charles Sumner Harrison Organization, Upward Bound at Washington State Community College and Right Path for Washington County.
"I am very pleased we received this grant from Ohio Campus Compact to host an inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Marietta College was one of eight schools in Ohio to receive the grant," Steffen said. "The purpose of the Feeding the Dream Challenge is to honor Dr. King's life and legacy of getting people to work together toward a common goal. In this case, high school students and college students will be working together to do what they can to help the Marietta Community Food Pantry," she said, adding the winning team would receive prizes.
"The whole campus is invited to participate in this inaugural event. With the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama on the 20th, I think we will see an even greater commitment to volunteerism and activism nationwide this year and in coming years," Steffen said.
The schedule for Saturday's activities at Marietta College includes:
- 4 p.m.: Kick-off event in Andrews Hall Great Room
- 4:30 to 6 p.m.: Service challenge to benefit Marietta Community Food Pantry
- 6 to 8 p.m.: Pizza and entertainment at the Gathering Place
- 8 to 11 p.m.: Celebration dance in Andrews Hall Great Room
"The hope is that Marietta College students and the community see how we are observing Dr. King's accomplishments and the example will lead to more action rather than reflection in the future," Mirones said.
For additional information contact Megan Mirones at (614) 563-8969 or mmm004@marietta.edu.
Parkersburg Art Center will host a children's celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 19 at the art center at 725 Market St. in downtown Parkersburg.
Children in kindergarten through sixth grades are invited to participate in the free event, with registration beginning at 8:45 a.m. There will be information and music about the Civil Rights era, snacks and service projects. All activities are free.
For more information, contact the Volunteer Action Center at (304) 424-3457.
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MrAlex
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01-11-09 7:22 PM
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I agree. I think it's really wrong for MLK to have his own day and to make it a holiday. It's just B.S. Washington and Lincoln should have their own days. What gives MLK the right to a national holiday in his name? ... which is not even his REAL name! It just seems wrong. I think MLK's importance is way OVER exaggerated. So the kids get off from school, mail is stopped, banks are closed, all so people can "celebrate" the holiday of a guy who they don't even know his real name. A guy who did little more than yell, "I have a dream!" And he marched a lot. So what did he really accomplish? Not much. I'm not impressed.
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Azrael
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01-11-09 4:29 PM
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How does it take two or more weeks to celebrate one birthday? Jesus' birthday doesn't even get more than a one day celebration. Whatever you think of King-that's your business but it's against some people's rights to force your views on the rest of society. This one person, King, was a mortal-just like we are. Abe Lincoln and George Washington, who accomplished a*****of a lot more than King do not even get their rightful birthday celebrated anymore because some people do not think it is necessary. President's day is on February 16, 2009. People, that is just pitful to use such a generic term for the founders of this country. What is wrong that each one of their names are not on our calenders and still celebrated? This is my opinion, which I am allowed to have. Mr. Towner-you're just the writer, but have you ever wondered?
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