Celebrate MLK in Arlington on Monday

Editor's note: The following information comes from the town of Arlington.

The format this year will be a bit different, but Arlington officials are planning a special celebration to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday.

This year’s events will feature Haji Shearer, a professional speaker and director of the Fatherhood Initiative at the Massachusetts Children’s Trust Fund. Shearer works closely with black and Latino men in issues of racism and patriarchy.

The Orchestra is also expected to make an appearance, performing “Pieces of Dreams” by Pasquale Tassone.

This year, doors open at 6:45 p.m. and the program begins at 7:30 p.m. at . There will be no meal as in previous years. Instead, attendees are asked to bring cookies or a bar-type dessert to serve five people.

A free-will offering will benefit the martin Luther King Memorial in Washington, D.C., the African American Society Scholarships and the Arlington Public Schools.

Non-perishable items for the Food Pantry will also be collected during the event. For details on what can be donated to the pantry, please visit arlingtonma.gov/foodpantry. For questions, please call 781-643-4345

, town residents shared a potluck dinner, danced to Gospel music from the St. Paul African Methodist Church's teen choir and listened to author Emerson Stamps, the keynote speaker at the event, who is the grandson of slaves and the son of sharecroppers.