The annual St. Cloud Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration is turning into a three-day celebration recognizing neighborhood connections and honoring humanitarians.
“MLK Everyday: Neighbors Serving Neighbors” honors the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and is celebrating the good work neighbors can do to help one another.
The weekend starts off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16 with a virtual series of presentations designed for family members of all ages. The event, emceed by Buddy King features a dance presentation, book reading and drumming showcase. Winners of the Art and Essay Contest will be recognized during the event.
The weekend continues at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 17 with a livestream of a Unity service involving many African American churches in the area.
The main event begins at 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 18 when Jeffery Robinson will give his keynote address, which includes a screening of his new documentary “Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America”. An informal community conversation will follow his presentation.
Robinson is the deputy legal director and director of the ALCU Trone Center for Justice and Equality. He is an attorney who has devoted almost four decades of his legal career to racial justice. He speaks nationally on the role of race in the criminal justice system and is past president of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Monday’s event also features the inaugural presentation of the MLK Community Celebration Humanitarian Award. The award recognizes an individual who has inspired others through their passionate care for others or a life of service.
The award was inspired by the work people were doing to give back to others in need during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Mary Clifford, MLK Community Celebration planning committee member.
Participation is free in all three days of events. Register at scsu.mn/MLKCommunityCelebration.
