Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
MLK Jr. Day events go virtual
There are a variety of activities to celebrate the holiday around South Florida.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Day will be celebrated today and in South Florida, a variety of activities are planned virtually and in-person on and in the days surrounding the holiday. Many gatherings and presentations will require advance reservations with limited capacity and seating. Most of the events are being presented online this year. The federal holiday was first observed in 1986, and federal offices and most workplaces will be closed. However, many stores and restaurants will be open for business.
Broward County
Jan. 18
Keeping Your Eyes On The Prize, 10 a.m., presented by the City of Tamarac. Virtual presentation will feature speaker Judge George Odom Jr. city-of-tamaracmlk-day-event.eventbrite.com
Palm Beach County
Jan. 18
MLK Day of Service, all day, a day of volunteerism and commemoration in partnership with Jewish Volunteer Center, Palm Beach Atlantic University and Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Jewish Community Relations Council. Virtual, contactless and small-group opportunities will include food bank pantry sorting, donation drop-offs, gleaning, a beach cleanup, caring for animals, community revitalization projects and more. All in-person opportunities will meet COVID19 safety standards, including social distancing, mask-wearing and a mandatory wellness check. The community-wide day of giving back will be followed by a virtual program at 6 p.m. to commemorate Dr. King’s vision of diversity and equality. The ceremony will focus on Dr. King’s remarks, “From Chaos to Community, Where do we go from here?,” with words by Dr. Terriel Byrd, Palm Beach Atlantic University professor, minister and author, notably of “By This Shall We Be Known: Interpreting the Voice and Message of Dr. King, Jr.” To register, visit jewishvolunteer.org
Annual MLK Breakfast/ Essay Contest Awards, 8 a.m., virtual. Hosted by the Martin Luther King Coordinating Committee Palm Beach County. Celebrating the memory and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the program will also feature students and guest speakers. Visit mlkccpbc.org/. Tickets are $25.
Twenty-first annual “I Have A Dream” Martin Luther King, Jr. Brunch, 10 a.m. The Spady Museum’s signature celebration of the civil rights leader’s legacy will be online. 561-279-8883 or email spadymuseum@gmail.com. Cost is $25.
Honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.,
10-11 a.m., Virtual presentation hosted by The city of Boca Raton. Featuring a special virtual storytime at 1 p.m., and “Unity in the Community” activity bags for kids, available for pick up later in the week. The events will air on the Boca Raton Recreation Facebook page, the city’s YouTube Channel, and on Comcast Xfinity Ch. 20, AT&T Ch. 99 and Hotwire Ch. 395, featuring live musical performances, speeches by local leaders including Mayor Scott Singer, and a special presentation of the Humanitarian Award. The virtual storytime will feature “Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” by Doreen Rappaport, winner of the Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Book Awards. Visit myboca.us/specialevents or call 561-213-9263.
Dr. MLK Jr. Day Celebration, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., South Florida Fair, Coca-Cola Stage, 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach. Presented by the Martin Luther King Coordinating Committee Palm Beach County. Featuring performances by gospel singer Minister Janice Tipton, and the Coordinating Committee performers. Visit southfloridafair. com/events/2021/mlk-day-celebration2 or call 561-793-0333.
Virtual Story Time, 10:30 a.m., presented by Boynton Beach Library. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee member Gemima Cadet will be the reader. boynton-beach.org/virtual-mlkstory-time.
MLK Committee’s annual MLK Interfaith Breakfast,
11 a.m., Bryant Park band shell, Lake Worth. The program will include music and sing-along by Mel & Vinnie featuring vintage Civil Rights Era songs as well as a presentation by For The Children preschool. Inspirational remarks from Catholic and Protestant, Jewish and Gentile leaders. Visit lwinterfaith.net/mlk.
2021 Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. Celebration, Activism,
Advocacy and Allyship Toward Equality, 11 a.m. virtual, presented by Palm Beach State College. Keynote speaker is award-winning journalist Yvette M. Miley, senior vice president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the NBCU News Group and NBC Sports. Call 561-207-5707 or email holderhd@palmbeachstate.edu. RSVP at palmbeachstate.edu/mlk/
27th annual Candlelight March, 4:30 p.m., The public will gather near the steps of
Lake Worth City Hall, 7 N. Dixie Highway, and march through downtown Lake Worth. The procession will terminate at the MLK “Ball” Memorial in the Cultural Plaza, M Street and Lake Avenue. A brief commemorative program will be held there recognizing the accomplishments and unfinished business of Dr. King’s legacy.
Rethinking the Legacy of
Dr. King, 6 p.m., virtual lecture, presented by the office of African, African American, Latino, Holocaust, and Gender Studies of the Palm Beach County School District. Facebook.com/ PBCCBSA. 561-434-8879. Email bisn.knoelrd@pslmnrsvhdvhoold.org.
Miami-Dade County
Jan. 24-April 25 Transfiguration: A Black Speculative Vision of Freedom, Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum, Miami. This exhibit takes up the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s observation, which addresses issues of race, diversity, social justice, civil rights, and humanity to serve as a catalyst for dialogue and to enrich the community with new perspectives. Visit frost.fiu.edu/exhibitions-events/events/2021⁄01/ transfiguration.html.
National
A Tribute to Service: Community, Country, and Humanity, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., hosted by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Aerospace Special Interest Group of the National Society of Black Engineers. The event will recognize several Americans who exemplify Dr. King’s concept of service and demonstrate the contributions that are possible when people are given the opportunity to serve their community, country and humanity, including Virginia Ali, cofounder of Ben’s Chili Bowl with her late husband, Ben. Ali will share stories about sitting with Dr. King and later with the first Black President of the United States, Barack Obama, and share how her restaurant has served as a gathering place for everyone. Visit bit.ly/3nR9SuJ. Free.
In-person events are subject to change. Call ahead before attending.
Want more? Visit sunsentinel. com/events to view and submit local community events.