MLK in Simsbury Celebration in Simsbury Scheduled

MLK in Simsbury Celebration

On January 19th, Simsbury will once again commemorate famous civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by holding a special program at First Church of Christ at 2:00 p.m.

This ceremony will celebrate Dr. King’s life and particularly his time in Simsbury during the summers of 1944 and 1947, appropriately coinciding with the federal holiday marking his birthday.

Dr. King’s profound life achievements were influenced by his two summers spent in Simsbury. His writings strongly suggest that his call to ministry crystallized during his time spent with a group of Morehouse College students, earning money for their education by working at the Culbro Tobacco Farm in town.

The 2015 keynote speaker will be Martha Brackeen-Harris. Brackeen-Harris is a retired public and independent school educator who served for over 40 years in Philadelphia and Hartford area schools. She has worked diligently to make schools places where all children are valued and learn to embrace similarities and differences. She has conducted diversity workshops both locally and nationally and has spoken about her life growing up in the Civil Rights era to a variety of audiences.

She inherited her passion for working for equity and justice from her father, Rev. S. Amos Brackeen, who was a friend of Dr. Martin Luther King. She is a member of Union Baptist Church in Hartford, CT, one of the churches where Dr. King worshipped while spending his summers in Connecticut.

“We are delighted to continue to honor Dr. King in a meaningful way annually, celebrating his life, legacy and deep connection to Simsbury. We are happy to partner with First Church, the Simsbury Free Library, the Simsbury Historical Society and the Simsbury Public Schools’ Music & Performing Arts Department (under the incredible direction of Angel Griffin) on this initiative. This event has become a treasured Simsbury tradition and gets bigger and better every year. We are very excited about this year’s program,” said State Representative John K. Hampton, Chairman of the MLK in Simsbury Celebration Committee.

Highlights of the ceremony will be readings from Dr. King’s speeches and musical performances by The Henry James Memorial School Select Chorus and the Simsbury Intonations Chorus.

Special guests include Greg Jones

The public is encouraged to attend and honor the spirit behind this day which is free.

First Church is located at 689 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury. For questions or more information, please contact Mr. Hampton at 860.830.4072 or email him at jkhampton@hotmail.com.

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