Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., 4 p.m. at the Garner Performing Arts Center, 742 W. Garner Road, Garner. Keynote speaker will be Reuben Young, secretary of the N.C. Department of Public Safety.
UNC-Chapel Hill/Community Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Banquet, 6 p.m. at Friday Center, Chapel Hill. Keynote speaker is Ambassador James A. Joseph.
Shaw University tribute, 7 p.m. at Thomas Boyd Chapel, 118 E. South St., Raleigh.
Monday
32nd Annual Martin Luther King Triangle Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, 7 a.m. at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Research Triangle Park. Keynote speaker will be Cynthia Marshall, president of AT&T of North Carolina. U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan also will speak, and Raleigh radio icon Ray "Dr. Jocko" Henderson will be honored. For the first time, the breakfast will be televised live on WRAL-TV. Doors will open at 6 a.m.
Fuquay-Varina Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, 8:30 a.m. march from Fuquay-Varina Middle on Ennis Street to St. Augusta Missionary Church, 605 Bridge St., Fuquay-Varina.
Triangle Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Durham, Johnston, Orange and Wake counties will host nearly 30 community service projects to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King. Durham's Signature Project is from 9 a.m. to noon at American Tobacco Campus, Bay 7, where volunteers will help with a variety of projects, including assembly of homeless hygiene kits, computer drop-off and cleaning, book drive sorting, and writing letters and creating valentines for veterans and active military. Johnston's Signature Project is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pizazz Thrift Store, where volunteers will conduct diaper, new underwear, clothing and nonperishable food drives. Orange's Signature Project is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, where volunteers will work on projects including assembly of health kits and clothes sorting. Wake's Signature Project is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at White Plains Children's Center, where volunteers will assemble homeless hygiene kits, sort books for a book drive, and write letters for veterans and active military. See www .unitedwaytriangle .org /mlk/ .
Dozens of organizations, churches and other groups participated in remembrance of King's Dream. But, according to Andrews, this year's grand marshals had all been living examples of that dream.
"We selected activists and advocates to lead the parade," he said. "They were chosen for all the service that they give our community, above and beyond. Each one has made a positive impact in our neighborhoods."
Added to the list of honorees was a caravan of unique, commemorative cars honoring the victims of 9-11. The caravan was led by actor Kevyn Major Howard, best known for his role as "Rafter Man" in the movie Full Metal Jacket.
Parade attendee Vincent Scott said diversity is key to realizing King's dream.
"I think the diverse crowd brings the community together. As a matter of fact, I love seeing it," he said. "Here everybody mingles together. There's the Mexican community, the black community and the Asian community. This way the cultures are going to rub off on each other."
Despite difficult economic times, Andrews plans to continue bringing the community together whenever possible, he said.
"It means the world to me to be able to keep the teachings of Dr. King alive. As for the economy, it is the difficult economic times that makes this event so important because it gives people hope," Andrews said. "A lot of people do not realize the importance of parades and special events."
The social aspect of coming together should not be underestimated, he added.
"It is really important to be united," he said. "It empowers individuals, strengthen communities, bridges barriers, create solutions to social problems, and moves us toward Dr. King's vision of a beloved community.
No comments:
Post a Comment