slides: 6 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Events in Central Mass

Saturday, January 18, 2014

GoLocalProv Lifestyle Team

Religious, civic and government leaders from across the state will celebrate the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this long weekend with numerous celebrations and service projects. From youth festivities to educational events to community sing-a-longs, Central Massachusetts residents have the opportunity to honor Dr. King’s legacy in a variety of ways. With that in mind, GoLocal has assembled a list of 6 Martin Luther King Jr. Day events being held this weekend and throughout the month of January.

Martin Luther King Day

First observed in 1986, Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday celebrating the life and achievements of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King, who was a pastor, activist, humanitarian and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. A campaign for a federal holiday in King’s honor began shortly after his assassination in 1968, but the holiday wasn’t signed into law until 1983 during the Reagan Administration. As of 2000, the holiday is officially observed by all 50 states.

Related Slideshow: MLK Day Events in Central Mass

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MLK Breakfast

Quinsigamond Community College will hold its 29th Annual Community Breakfast on Monday, January 20, to honor the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tickets are $25 each ($250 for a table of ten) and may be purchased by contacting Susan Laprade, President’s Office at QCC: 508.854.4368 or [email protected].

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Community Sing-A-Long

In honor of MLK weekend, Salisbury Singers is hosting a community sing-a-long of African-American traditional spirituals on Sunday, January 19 from 3pm to 5pm at the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 73 Lancaster Street, Worcester. It is a chance for all who love this traditional music to come and sing some favorites, such as "Deep River," "Swing Low Sweet Chariot, "Were You There," and other well-known spirituals. A donation of $10 will be taken at the door.

For more details, email [email protected].

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Journey to the Podium

One year since he appeared at the podium during President Barack Obama's inauguration, celebrated poet Richard Blanco will join the Clark University celebration of Martin Luther King Day, beginning at 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, in Razzo Hall, Traina Center for the Arts, 92 Downing Street. This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact the Clark University Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, at 508-793-7234.

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Storytelling at Old Sturbridge Village

Learn more about New England's civil rights legacy as Old Sturbridge Village's costumed historians portray important 19th-century abolitionist leaders. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, storyteller and museum educatorTammy Denease Richardson will portray Elizabeth “Mum Bett” Freeman and share the story of how this one-time slave won her freedom in court in 1781.

For more information, go here.

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MLK Event for Children

Join the Children's Discovery Museum in Acton on Monday, January 20 from 10am to 12pm as they celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. Children can create white doves and add their "dreams for the future" onto the museum's Dream Tree.

For more details, click here.

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Giving Back

Honor the memory of Dr. King by volunteering your time at First Assembly of God Church in Worcester on Monday, January 20 from 9am to 12pm. Volunteers will tackle the growing issue of food insecurity in the local community. Youth will plan, organize, prepare and deliver “Healthy YOU” afterschool snack packages to approximately 1,270 students at a total of three elementary schools in Worcester. The day will begin with a kick-off opening ceremony and speaker from the local community, and students will learn about and prepare a lesson plan about Dr. King’s Poor People’s Campaign of 1968.

If you would like to register, go here.