Johnson City Parks & Recreation: Martin Luther King Jr. Day To Be Celebrated With Multiple Events

Press release from Johnson City Parks & Recreation:

January 10, 2022

Carver Recreation Center, 322 W. Watauga Ave., will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with the following events:

Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast

Date: Saturday, Jan. 15

Time: 10 a.m.-noon

Ages: All

Visitors can carry out their meal or eat inside. Activities traditionally conducted at the prayer breakfast and Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner will be combined and streamed by WJHL on Monday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m.

Martin Luther King Jr. Story Time

Date: Monday, Jan. 17

Time: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Ages: All

Kids will learn about Martin Luther King Jr. through stories, music, and arts and crafts. Lunch will be provided. This event is held in partnership with ETSU.

American Red Cross Blood Drive

Date: Monday, Jan. 17

Time: 1-6 p.m.

Ages: 18+

The Red Cross is experiencing the worst blood shortage in over a decade and individuals are asked to donate blood. All scheduled time slots are full, please call ahead for availability.

Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner

Date: Monday, Jan. 17

Time: 5-7 p.m.

Ages: All

Visitors will be provided with a carry-out meal. Activities traditionally conducted at the Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast and dinner will be combined and streamed by WJHL on Monday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m.

Martin Luther King Jr. Virtual Program

Date: Monday, Jan. 17

Time: 7 p.m.

Ages: All

WJHL will stream a virtual event that will include various church choirs, readings of Dr. King’s speeches and other activities traditionally conducted at both the prayer breakfast and dinner.

For more information about any of these programs, call 423-461-8830.

Other scheduled community events include:

Virtual Worship Service

Date: Sunday, Jan. 16

Time: 6 p.m.

Ages: All

The Johnson City/Washington County NAACP will stream a worship service on its Facebook page.

MLK Unity Program and Walk

Date: Monday, Jan. 17

Time: 12:45-2:30 p.m.

Ages: All

The Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Program and Walk will start and end at Carver Recreation Center. A 45-minute ceremony will culminate with an hourlong walk. Participants will stop 12 times for prayer, remembrances, and song. The distance of the walk is less than 2 miles. For more information, call Aaron T. Murphy at 423-791-8552.

Soundtrack to the Civil Rights Movement

Date: Thursday, Jan. 20

Time: 7 p.m.

Ages: All

The Mary V. Jordan Multicultural Center welcomes Jonathan Blanchard in his performance title “Soundtrack to the Civil Rights Movement.” This interactive performance explores and explains the music and events that shaped and fueled the Civil Rights Movement. This free event will be held at the D.P. Culp Center Auditorium, 412 J L Seehorn Jr. Road. For more information call 423-439-4844 or email etsumc@etsu.edu.

The information about the Martin Luther King Jr. activities listed above can also be found online at www.johnsoncitytn.org/mlk.

This press release was produced by Johnson City Parks & Recreation. The views expressed here are the author’s own.