MLK Observance Returns To Columbia High School Monday

MAPLEWOOD, NJ - The luminaries have been made, Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver has RSVP'd and the table is set for the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race's 18th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance.

Scheduled for Monday at 2 p.m. at Columbia High School, located at 17 Parker Ave, the event is free and open to all. Hundreds of SOMA residents and friends from neighboring communities will gather to honor Dr. King through music, a sharing of interfaith readings and an affirmation of Dr. King’s call to action and service. Following the celebration, there will be a Reception and Volunteer Fair at 3:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.

Donations of food pantry items, knitting yarn, old eyeglasses, children’s books (K-5th grade) and travel-sized toiletry donations are requested.
“This year as many celebrate the remarkable life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his clarion call for courageous action to confront and root out racism in its many forms remains critically important given the current troubling state of affairs in our nation," Robert A. Marchman, Community Coalition on Race Chair said. "The strife and turmoil around us evidences that much work remains to be done. Our Observance program serves as a reminder of the importance of such work.”

The keynote speaker at this year’s observance is the Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey, Sheila Y. Oliver, who is the first African-American woman in state history to serve in statewide elected office and just the second in the nation’s history to lead a state legislative house. In 2003, she was initially elected to the General Assembly and then in 2010 she became Speaker. Lt. Governor Oliver is a 40-year resident of East Orange and a native of Newark.

After the observance and fair, attendees and the entire community are invited to join the SOMA Luminary Project lighting. On the evening of Jan. 21 beginning at 6 p.m., participants are being asked to light up the outside of their home with Luminaries, white bags with votive candles inside that can be decorated with images of Dr. King’s message of peace. Over 1,000 homes participated last year and the goal is to light up 2,000 places in 2019.

The Luminaries come four in a pack for a suggested donation of $10 and it is a fundraiser for the Coalition. Kits can be purchased at The Able Baker, [words] Bookstore, Wine Barrel in Maplewood, Sparkhouse Toys, The Cassidy Bar + Kitchen and Zen Pets and through team captains in the community.

“Our future belongs to young people and when their voices are being lifted, our role is to remind them that a truly just and equal democracy can emerge without violence," Patricia Canning, Luminary Project Co-Leader said. "As we celebrate Dr. King's birthday and observe his legacy, we have to acknowledge his success with the use of non-violent measures to secure democracy for all.”

Full Schedule Monday, Jan. 21:

• 2 p.m.: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance at Columbia High School auditorium
• 3:30 p.m.: Annual Volunteer Fair and Reception in the Columbia High School cafeteria
• 5:30 p.m.: Lighting of the Luminaries at Columbia High School front lawn
• 6 p.m.: Light luminaries at home, take a photo and share on social media using the hashtags #LetThereBeLight, #SOMALuminaries

(Photos courtesy of the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race)

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