Town Of Wakefield To Host Martin Luther King Jr. Day Event

Press release from the Town of Wakefield:

WAKEFIELD, MA — The Wakefield Human Rights Commission (WHRC) invites the community to join us on the morning of Monday, January 20 in the Galvin Middle School auditorium for a celebration of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Our program includes music, poetry, art, speakers, and history beginning at 10 a.m. We encourage you to arrive earlier to view projections of dozens of wonderful collages created by Wakefield High School’s digital art students. In honor of Black History Month, the HRC has arranged for an exhibit of this artwork at the new Inspire Café.

January 20, 2025, 10 a.m. Galvin Middle School, 525 Main St.

Poet and Speakers…

• Audrey Elise Crain will recite her poem.
• Reverend Mortimer from the Wakefield Methodist Congregation and Chair of the Wakefield Clergy Association will provide the invocation.
• State Senator Jason Lewis and State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian will provide inspirational remarks.

Music…Two celebratory musical interludes are planned.

• Students from Dolbeare Elementary School, 2nd – 4th graders, will lead a singalong of “What the Word Needs Now (is love sweet love)”. The lyrics will be projected.
• The Kingdom Voice of Glory choir will treat us to a stirring gospel performance.

History, Art and more…

• Take a visual history tour of the Civil Rights movement through photos of exhibits in the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.
• Enjoy the art created by Wakefield High School and Dolbeare Elementary School students.
• Help us honor this year’s Community Service Award Winner who is being recognized for making significant, tangible, and meaningful contributions that promote civil and human rights.
• Learn about the Wakefield Black History Walk planned for this spring.

2025 Community Service Project Kick-Off Our MLK/CSK annual event also is the kickoff for our 2025 Community Service Project, “Give the Warmth of Winter Care,” organized by the WHRC with the Youth Council. Bring new or gently used/clean hats and gloves, and new socks to the Galvin on January 20. Through February 7, we will have additional donation drop off locations around Wakefield including at the Galvin Middle School and Memorial High School (60 Farm Street), Americal Civic Center (467 Main Street), McCarthy Senior Center (30 Converse Street), and Town Hall (1 Lafayette Street). The project will culminate with an all-ages community event on the morning of Saturday, February 8th, at the Americal Civic Center, to sort and package, and help us deliver the donations.

To learn about the HRC, visit our web page. To apply to be part of the HRC’s efforts to build an inclusive and welcoming community, fill out the committee application form.

This press release was produced by the Town of Wakefield. The views expressed here are the author’s own.