Martin Luther King Jr. Day events

Here are some ways to honor and celebrate Martin Luther King Day:

DANVILLE

"The Call to Lead" with Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum as this year’s featured speaker.
7 p.m. in Newlin Hall at the Norton Center for the Arts, Centre College.

LEXINGTON

MLK 2016 Unity Breakfast
6:30 - 8:30 a.m.
Lexington Convention Center (430 West Vine Street, 40507)
Emcee Renee Shaw of Kentucky Educational Television
This is a ticketed event ($20). Purchase tickets at: http://www.lexingtonalpha.org/#!buytickets/cubw

MLK Freedom March
The annual parade begins at 10 a.m. from Heritage Hall in downtown Lexington

MLK Holiday Celebration Commemorative Program and Lunch (free)
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Heritage Hall, Downtown Lexington

FILM: Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom - One World Films (free)
2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Kentucky Theatre, 214 E Main St, Lexington 40507
Screening of 2013 British-South African biographical film directed by Justin Chadwick, based on the autobiography of former South African President Nelson Mandela. The screening is part of Lexington's celebration of MLK Day.


LOUISVILLE

Asking King's Question on Environmental Justice in West Louisville
"Where do we go from here: Community or Chaos?"
St. William Church, 1226 W. Oak Street, 40210 – 3 p.m.

A group of individuals and organizations from both sides of the 9th Street divide will be exploring the history of environmental justice in Louisville. Join this group of concerned citizens at St. William Church (1226 W. Oak Street) to learn what we can do to help neighborhoods being affected by poor environmental quality as we transition toward a 'just' sustainability for all. Hosted by Kentucky Interfaith Power and Light.

Day of Service
Chickasaw Park – 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Olmsted Parks Conservancy will host a volunteer event in Chickasaw Park in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on January 18, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Projects may include mulching, removing invasive plants and general park beautification. Gloves, tools and refreshments provided. Dress for weather and working outdoors. For more information and to register, please contact Sarah Wolff at (502) 456-8125 or visit www.olmstedparks.org/events.

There is a week of MLK events – panel discussion, film. day of service – at the University of Louisville, starting January 11. See information about these HERE.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY

These events are in Cincinnati, sponsored by the Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition. The theme for the 2016 events is Justice, Freedom, Equality: We Can’t Wait. Events that are free and open to the public include:

10 a.m. – Commemorative Civil Rights March begins at the Freedom Center, including march to Fountain Square for the …
11 a.m. – Fountain Square, Interfaith Prayer Service followed by a march to Music Hall
12 noon – Music Hall, MLK Commemorative Celebration

Of special interest this year at the Music Hall Commemorative Celebration are the award-winning MLK Chorale and spoken word performers from Northern Kentucky University.

MLK Day events begin at 8 a.m. with the ticketed 2016 King Legacy Awards Breakfast sponsored by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Coalition. Tickets for this may be purchased by calling 513-333-7706.

All events except the Legacy Awards Breakfast are free and open to the public. For more information visit www.mlkcoalition.org.

MADISONVILLE

SATURDAY, January 16
Hopkins County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration with the theme “Remembering the Past, Celebrating the Present, Empowering the Dream through Education.” Dr. Kevin Cosby, president of Simmons College in Louisville, will be the keynote speaker. The guest speaker is Betty Daniels Rosemond of Cincinnati, a civil rights pioneer and a Freedom Rider during the early 1960s in the south. Kentucky Commission on Human Rights Executive Director John Johnson will participate. The event will be held at 4 p.m. CST at 750 Laffoon Street in Madisonville.

SUNDAY, January 17, 3 to 5 p.m.
Community Celebration with a sermon by the Rev. Cortez Miller,special music and tributes by Madisonville North Hopkins High School Choir and others. Location: Eastview Missionary Baptist Church, 159 East North Street, Madisonville.

EASTERN KENTUCKY

Tuesday, January 19, 4pm to 6pm
Anne Braden, Southern Patriot Film Screening and Discussion 

Southeast Commnunity and Technical College
700 College Rd, Cumberland, Kentucky 40823

Anne Braden: Southern Patriot is a documentary film exploring the extraordinary life and legacy of this American civil rights leader. This is a FREE event and will be held in the Godbey Appalachian Center Gallery at the Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College in Cumberland, Kentucky. Event hosted by Letcher & Harlan County Americorps VISTA's from Appalshop, Headwaters, Cowen Community Center, Pine Mountain Settlement School, Mountain Comprehensive Healthcare Corporation, Grow Appalachia, WMMT-FM, and Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College.
 

Monday, January 18th, 1pm
Community Mural Project in Hazard
Corner of Baker and High Streets

Come join the Community Mural Project in downtown Hazard on Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Participants will complete the first phase of a paint-by-numbers mural on the Combs building in downtown. Paint and brushes will be provided, but bring a brush if you have a favorite. Be sure to wear warm clothes to paint in, and come help beautify downtown! 
 

Monday, January 18th, 4:30pm
Film screening: "Selma: The Bridge to the Ballot"

Great Hall, May Stone Building, Hindman Settlement School
50 Center Street, Hindman, KY

"Selma: The Bridge to the Ballot" is the story of a courageous group of Alabama students and teachers who, along with other activists, fought a nonviolent battle to win voting rights for African Americans in the South. Standing in their way: a century of Jim Crow, a resistant and segregationist state, and a federal govern- ment slow to fully embrace equality. By organizing and marching bravely in the face of intimidation, violence, arrest and even murder, these change-makers achieved one of the most significant victories of the civil rights era. The film seeks to inspire young adults to see themselves as active members of a community with the power to make change. Join local AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers for a special screening of this film at 4:30pm on Monday, in honor of Martin Luther King Day. This event is free to the public, and will take place in the Great Hall of the May Stone Building at the Hindman Settlement School.

Monday, January 18th, 10:00am
Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Breakfast

Hazard Community and Technical College
1 Community College Drive, Hazard, KY

Dr. Aaron Thompson will be the guest speaker for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. community breakfast on Monday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. in HCTC’s First Federal Center. The public is invited to the breakfast held in honor of Dr. King. The theme of this year’s event is “It Takes a Village.” For more information and to register for the breakfast, contact Janice Hagans-Higgins via email at [email protected] or by calling the switchboard at 436-HCTC.