Martin Luther King Jr. Day events happening in the area
Local events to honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. are scheduled for Monday, Jan. 17.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration is 8:3010:30 a.m. Jan. 17. It is a community-wide celebration at the Auburn Hills Community Center in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. and “Operation Cover Me” for Grace Centers of Hope, service project of making fleece blankets. Donations of 1.5 yard sections of fleece are needed to make tie blankets with, already made blankets are also being accepted, auburnhills.org/calendar.php.
• The Farmington Community Library in partnership with the Multiracial Multicultural Community Council, Farmington Public Schools, and the Community Equity Organization, to host a march and virtual celebration honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., Jan. 17. The march starts at 11 a.m. at the Farmington Hills library location, 32737 W. Twelve Mile Road. Virtual statements from local politicians and community leaders will go live on the library’s website and YouTube channel starting at 10 a.m. Jan. 17, farmlib.org/ mlk.
• The communities and school districts in Royal Oak and Berkley are hosting “A Day On, Not a Day Off,” to honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. Berkley and Royal Oak students are collaborating on a virtual event that will include speakers and the Detroit Youth Choir at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 17 on the Berkley Schools and Royal Oak Schools Facebook pages. The public is invited to view the virtual commemoration and take part in a collection drive for nonprofit service groups and Freedom March, gathering at 10:30 a.m. (march is at 11 a.m.), starting at Royal Oak Middle School, 709 N. Washington Ave., Royal Oak.
• Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter will join the 37th Annual MLK Day Community Celebration hosted by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Task Force, Inc. The day will include a Drive for Freedom, Justice and Equity (in lieu of the annual Peace Walk). The parade of registered drivers and passengers will leave from Hope United Methodist Church in Southfield at 10 a.m. and travel to the Southfield Pavilion. Registration is closed for participating in the parade. A community food giveaway is 11 a.m. at the Southfield Pavilion, 26000 Evergreen Road. The day’s events will include a virtual program, hopeumc.org/37th-AnnualMLK-Day.
• The Troy School District is hosting a virtual Martin Luther King Jr. Day presentation at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 17. “Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr… more than a DREAM” will include panel discussions, artist reflections and special student submissions.
The virtual event features guests including: Troy School District Superintendent Dr. Rich Machesky, State Rep. Padma Kuppa, Troy Mayor Ethan Baker, Troy City Councilwoman Dr. Theresa Brooks, Artist/ Curator Jonathan Harris and Police Chaplain Pastor Bob Cornwall. Viewers can tune into the Troy School District Youtube channel at youtube.com/channel/UCgvkKXnp1PjGG9iSjedJPoA.
• The Walled Lake Consolidated School District invites the community to the 23rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration, at 5 p.m. Jan. 17, at Walled Lake Northern High School, 6000 Bogie Lake Road, Commerce. The event includes a multicultural dinner, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and an exhibition of student art work. The program is at 6:15 p.m., featuring keynote speaker Rabbi Yarden Blumstein and Alec Bender Friend of Diversity Award recipients. The event is free and open to the community, donations of canned food, boxed food, laundry detergent, and household paper products for the Hospitality House Food Pantry will be accepted.