MLK Day celebrations, food drives planned around county
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, Jan. 18, and virtual events, local food drives and a drive-up rally are planned to honor his life and legacy.
• Oakland Community College will host virtual events through Jan. 15, to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., with discussions about diversity and racial equity in education. The virtual events will be held at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 13; noon, Jan. 14; and 10 a.m. Jan. 15. For information and to register, visit edu/news/press-releases/ mlk2021.aspx.
• The 16th annual celebration of Martin Luther King Day in Milford features a Drive-Up MLK Day Rally is 1 p.m. Jan. 17 at Community Sharing Outreach Center, 5061 N. Duck Lake Road, Highland Township. The event will feature a brief presentation featuring King’s “I Have a Dream” speech which participants can listen to on their radios, and volunteers will collect soup meal donations. Area residents are encouraged to purchase ingredients for Southwest Chicken Soup and place in MLK-themed decorated bags and/or make monetary donations to help sponsor the soup shelf at Community Sharing, HVMLKDay.org.
• The Walled Lake Consolidated School District invites the community to its 22nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration, 6 p.m. Jan. 18. It is a virtual event this year and includes student presentations, musical performances, keynote speakers, and awards presentations. For information, visit www.wlcsd.org or call 248-956-2832.
• The Lathrup Village Parks & Recreation Department is hosting a citywide food drive through Jan. 18, to benefit Lighthouse Michigan, in conjunction with National Day of Service. Area residents are encouraged to drop off nonperishable food donations during business hours to the Community Room of Lathrup Village City Hall, 27400 Southfield Road; Michigan First Credit Union, 27000 Evergreen Road; or Glamour Salon, 28801 Southfield Road, Lathrup Village. Also, Lathrup Village will participate in the National COVID-19 Memorial to honor those who died of COVID-19, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 19, by lighting the Lathrup Village City Hall building and adjacent structures in Municipal Park. Local residents are invited to light their homes and churches and to ring bells at 5:30 p.m. as part of this national memorial, www.lathrupvillage.org.
• “Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - Farmington IDEA panel discussion”
webinar is 2-3 p.m. Jan. 18. Conversation around race and racism with local students. Farmington IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Acceptance) student clubs offered throughout Farmington and Farmington Hills schools, will be the panelists. It is moderated by Farmington Public Schools Dr. Bobbie Goodrum, Assistant Superintendent of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Register at bit.ly/38DPZTy. A link to the webinar will be provided on the day of the event. For questions, email jennifer.hassell@farmlib.org.
• Umoja Fine Arts Gallery and artists Priscilla Phifer and Marcel Stewart will unveil two original pieces of artwork to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 1-6 p.m. Jan. 18 at Umoja Fine Arts Gallery, Crossroads Building at 16250 Northland Drive - Suite 102, Southfield. Registration is required at TheOriginalArtShow.com.