King Committee of Greater Attleboro Hosts King – Day of Service Event Examines Dr. King???s ???I Have a Dream??? speech as a model for all those who dare to dream.
??In observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, The Rev. Dr. Martn Luther King, Jr. Memorial Committee of Greater Attleboro will host two events that underscore Dr. King???s principles of human solidarity and the interconnectedness of humanity.
MLK Day of Service Event
On Saturday, January 14, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., the MLK Committee and On Common Ground with host a MLK Day of Service event at LaSalette Shrine.
The event, entitled ???Crafting the Dream: Living the Legacy??? will feature a potluck meal, artful expressions of the strength of sharing and encouraging the dreams of others, and a keynote address by Joel Christian Gill.
Gill is a historian, illustrator, and author of two books on Black history: Strange Fruit Vol. I: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History, and Bass Reeves: Tales of the Talented Tenth no.1.
He also serves as the Associate Dean of Student Affairs at the New Hampshire Institute of Art and is a member of The Boston Comics Roundtable.
Gill???s talk will address the day???s theme, which is based on the premise that within Dr. King???s ???I Have a Dream??? speech are elements that can serve as a model for those who dare to dream.
These elements include 1) a desire to create a future full of hope, not just for self, but for others; 2) a desire to live in better relationship with others; and 3) ambitions not lead by human fears and brokenness.
Truly inspired dreams not only serve to fulfill one???s personal goals, but also fulfill the needs of humanity. Our goals and desires will be interconnected with one another.
In addition to the keynote presentation, there will be art projects that reflect the day???s theme taking place at various tables, including poetry writing, weaving, and a book making activity lead by Krystal Brown, the Children???s Librarian at the Attleboro Public Library.
While the event is free to the public, we are asking those who attend to bring a dish to share with others.
??For more information, contact Ethel Garvin at (508) 226-6712.
King Holiday Events On Monday, January 16, the Committee???s King – day celebration begins at 1:00 p.m. with a Municipal Program at Attleboro City Hall, 77 Park Street. The program will feature local and state representatives and the North Attleboro Middle School Chorus.
???At 2:00 p.m., the Committee will host an Interfaith Service at John Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church, 32 Broad Street, North Attleboro.
Ron Jones of Dialogues on Diversity, a training company that uses theatrical models to promote dialogue and understanding around diversity, cultural sensitivity, and social justice, will be the keynote speaker.
??Jones has been an actor, director, and trainer for over twenty years. He has been a performing member of such troupes as ImprovBoston, StageCoach Improv, and The U.S. Improvisational Theatre League. His a founding member of UrbanImprov, which won an Emmy award in 2002 for best children???s programming for the television program ???re:Action.???
??Jones will address the theme ???Dr. King and the Strength of Shared Dreams.??? Jones will examine components of Dr. Kings dream to show how his vision for humanity is, or should be, a model for all those who dare to dream.???
Within our national community, it appears that he dreams of many people go unborn, are deferred, or seem to include only a desire for vocational gain, money, and prestige,??? says Ethel Garvin, chairperson of the MLK Committee. ???If our nation is to fulfill its God-inspired vision and goal, as eloquently stated by Dr. King in his ???I have a Dream??? speech, hen Dr. King???s dream must be presented as a model and inspiration to the young, to those in the middle of life???s journey, and to those whose dream is to attain solely personal gain to show that truly inspired dreams go beyond vocational gain and the fulfillment of the American Dream to include a desire to serve others and to live in better community with humankind.???
The service will also feature Poet Jamele Adams, dean of students at Brandeis University, and professional vocalist Sara Eleanor Indish.
Adams is well known in the Boston poetry scene and is part of a team of poets who have won numerous competitions regionally and nationally.
Indish is a classically trained vocalist who performs regularly throughout Rhode Island. According to Indish, she has been performing since the age of 10 ??? if not earlier. Indish also teaches vocal lessons to people of all ages.
A goodwill offering also will be taken up during the service.
Half of the offering will be donated to Lenores??? Kitchen, a food pantry in North Attleboro. The remainder of the offering will fund the Committee???s W. Duane Lockard Scholarship and general operating funds.????
Members of the committee include Ethel Garvin, Attleboro; the Rev. Jewel Hardmon, Attleboro; Melissa Martin, Attleboro; Jermaine Patterson, South Attleboro; and Mary Whelan, Attleboro.