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MLK Day 2022

On Friday, January 14, 2022, classes learned about the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with an emphasis on creating a community of kindness and equity for all. This is not a one-day lesson, but a model for bringing the tenets of Dr. King’s philosophy and practices into our lives every day. Pictured below are a few of the activities from the day to remind us to be kind and just. 

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” 

– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Honoring Dr. King

Here are ways that classes and a family chose to share Dr. King’s message of hope, justice, and equality prior to Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2021. This was a starting point for each class. In every group, throughout the year, the lessons of empathy, compassion, inclusion, and equity are at the core of class discussions and experiences. 

A book about a child, read by a child, was just the ticket for our Preschool students. The story of Sara, who wants to know what is so special about the front of the bus, is delightfully read by a boy named Jake who has his own YouTube channel. In a year when we haven’t been able to have Book Buddies, Jeanine and Susan felt like this was a great way to approach a difficult topic. Loosely based on Rosa Parks, the little girl in the story soon has the power of community behind her. You can hear Jake read The Bus Ride by William Miller and follow along here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOc7TmjQivI 

Early Primary read We Are All Alike, We Are All Different written by The Cheltenham Elementary School Kindergartners.  This book is so accessible for young children! They immediately grasped the concept that we all have a family, but our families are different; we all have a home, but our homes are different. This year’s group decided that if the students at Cheltenham could write a book, so could they!  With the help of Genevieve and Susan, they are busy working on their illustrations showing how alike, and yet how different, we all are.

 

Another great book, Fair is Fair by Sonny Varela, was the jumping off point for a lively discussion by Primary Blue. In this tale, an elephant, a giraffe, and a hare all get their fair share of food. Then one day, they decide to pile up all of the food and distribute it equally. As you can imagine, the hare can barely move after too much food, and the elephant is still hungry after not enough food.  At the end of the book, Krista presented different scenarios to the students who then discussed what was fair, what was equal, and which was needed in each situation. 

In the two weeks prior to Dr. MLK Jr. Day, Juniors began a themed Morning Meeting unit about Compromise and a Humanities unit about Antarctica, both of which led to talking about the different ways people have created peaceful environments where everyone can work together with trust and respect to make the world a better place. The Antarctic Treaty was highlighted as a promising compromise between countries where they all share power, responsibility and information. After talking and watching a video about Dr. King’s life, Juniors had a heart-felt discussion about the false compromise of segregation and the work that many leaders including Dr. King did to end segregation and Jim Crow laws, and how far we still have to go before our work is finished.

A bag of lemons became a strong visual aid for our Spanish teacher, Nina, and her son. They each picked a lemon from a bag, looked it over carefully, then put it back in the bag with the other lemons. When Nina gently shook the bag, then spread the fruit on the table, she and her son each found “their lemons” immediately. She peeled all of the lemons. Now it was much harder to figure out which were the lemons they had picked. Finally, once the lemons were sliced, they all looked exactly the same. Her son learned that while we have traits that make our appearances look different, we are all the same on the inside. Bonus: This activity concluded with lemonade!

Having just come through an election year, Seniors explored the through line of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s call to citizens to vote and the recent election runoffs in Georgia. They watched a clip of Dr. King saying, “Each of us has a moral responsibility, if we are of voting age and registered to vote, to participate in that decision. I come here to urge every person under the sound of my voice, to go to the polls…and vote your convictions.” That was followed by a TED talk by Stacey Abrams and the group learning about the Fair Fight, the voting rights organization she started.

Middle Schoolers are spending the year studying American history and also discussing it through the lens of current events.  Reviewing the steps it took to move from the idea of a day in honor of Dr. King to the creation of a federal holiday connected perfectly to what students had learned about the legislative branch of government and how a bill becomes law. They read the 1986 proclamation by President Reagan upon the first observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday. This document stated, “We rejoice because, in his short life, Dr. King, by his preaching, his example, and his leadership, helped to move us closer to the ideals on which America was founded. The students were asked, what were the ideals upon which American was founded? This brought them back to their study of the Declaration of Independence. Further in the proclamation, the document states, “Dr. King’s activism was rooted in the true patriotism that cherishes America’s ideals and strives to narrow the gap between those ideals and reality.” There was much discussion of the definition of a “true patriot,” noting that to point out flaws is not unpatriotic, but one’s goal in pointing them out should be to work to eliminate them and bring America closer to those founding ideals. Students thought about:  How does Dr. King fit this definition?  Who else have they studied who fits this definition? Who else do they know about who fits this definition of true patriotism? Finally, they looked at President Reagan’s call to “do more.” That has been Middle School’s focus all year long, to take what they are learning and use it to make a difference in the world.

 

Events to Celebrate MLK Day

Events for Families to Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Note:  NBS has not been able to preview these events.  Please call or email the hosts to get your questions answered. Some of these events are not on Monday, January 18. Please read the descriptions carefully.  Because of COVID, most things are virtual.  This means your options are unlimited for MLK celebrations across the country!  Please explore those possibilities online.

Events sponsored by the University of Virginia’s Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

Virtual Tour of the Lorraine Motel – Now the Civil Rights Museum, this former motel in Memphis, Tennessee is the site of Dr. King’s death.  

Event Date: Thursday, January 14, 2021 – 4:00pm to 6:00pm 

Event Location: Click Here to Register for the Zoom Link .  Hosted by the UVA Colonnade Club. 

 

Continuing His Dream & Works – Join Alex-Zan for his annual MLK event, Continuing His Dream & Works. The event will be available for viewing on Comcast Channel 14 and at Alex-Zan.com. For more information, visit the Alex-Zan website or contact Alex-Zan at 434-202-0773.

Event Date:  Monday, January 18, 2021 – 7:00pm

Event Location:  Virtual via TV and Website

 

Race Relations and Criminal Justice in the New Year – Following a year of intense activism sparked by the Black Lives Matter Movement, this moderated conversation will discuss the future of race relations and criminal justice reform in America under the incoming Biden administration.

Event Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2021 – 3:30pm to 4:30pm

Event Location: Click Here to Register for the Zoom Link 

 

Mental Wellness, Racial Justice, and Resiliency Talk – A a talk on how to improve your self-care and those within your community. Liz Ramirez-Weaver will be the speaker of this event, discussing how to handle mental wellness daily, especially during struggles and amidst a pandemic.

Event Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2021 – 6:00pm to 6:45pm

Event Location: Click Here to Register for the Zoom Link –  

 

A Conversation with Austin Channing Brown, author of the best-selling I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness – A conversation with Austin Channing Brown, who will speak to the task of building community out of chaos.

Event Date: Wednesday, January 20, 2021 – 5:00pm to 6:00pm

Event Location: Click Here to Register for the Zoom Link

 

“In Love We Still Trust: Lessons We Learned from Martin Luther King Jr., and Sr.”

Dr. Virgil Wood, an Albemarle County, Virginia native will discuss his book In Love We Still Trust:  Lessons We Learned from Martin Luther King, Jr., and Sr. and share his experience attending Hillsboro School in Crozet, Virginia and Albemarle Training School in Charlottesville.

Event Date: Thursday, January 21, 2021 – 1:00pm to 2:00pm

Event Location: Click Here to Register for the Zoom Link

 

36th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration and Worship Service

Event Date: Sunday, January 24, 2021 – 4:00pm

This year will be the 36th Annual Community Worship Service commemorating the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  This event will be virtual. 

 

Community Read Panel Discussion – Please join in on the 2021 Community Read by reading Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? (1967) by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  

The University of Virginia’s Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is giving away copies of King’s book, inviting the community to read it before joining the virtual panel discussion that will explore his ideas about civil rights accomplishments and the real costs of social justice that still haven’t been paid.  People can pick up a free copy of King’s Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? at the UVA Multicultural Student Center, the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center (room 129), New Dominion Bookshop, the Yancey Community Center, and at the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, including the Central Library and the Crozet, Gordon Avenue and Northside branches.

Event Date: Monday, January 25, 2021 – 6:00pm to 7:00pm

Event Location: Click Here to Register for the Zoom Link

 

“From the Equal Rights Amendment to Black Lives Matter: Reflecting on Intersectional Struggles for Equality” – This virtual law school symposium will explore the intersectional nature of race and sex (including LGBTQ+) equality movements, the contributions of activists with intersectional identities, and the potential role of intersectional theories to inform future efforts to advance race and sex equality. The symposium will culminate in a keynote speech by Elaine R. Jones, the first Black woman to graduate from UVA Law School.

Event Date: Friday, January 29, 2021 – 10:30am to 3:00pm

Event Location: Click Here to Register for the Zoom Link

 

Montpelier – https://www.montpelier.org/events/martin-luther-king-jr-weekend

During Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend, Montpelier will be re-opening and offering tours 10 AM-2 PM. The schedule is:

Saturday-Monday at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.: “Montpelier Outdoor Walking Tour”  

Saturday-Monday at 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m.: “Highlights of Montpelier Tour” – Guided indoor/outdoor tour

Saturday-Monday at 12:00 p.m.: “Montpelier’s Enslaved Community” – Guided outdoor tour

Saturday-Monday at 12:00 p.m.: “Private House Tour” – Guided house tour; reservations required at least 24 hours in advance

Other events (not necessarily local):

 

MLK Film Series:  A special movie weekend celebrating Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and vision of the Promised Land.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15 – 7:00 pm:  “I am MLK Jr.”

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16 – 7:00 pm – “Children’s March”

SUNDAY, JANUARY 17 – 7:00 pm – “The Dream Revisited”

MLK DAY: MONDAY, JANUARY 18 – 12pm – “Our Friend Martin”

For tickets, go to:  https://allevents.in/online/mlk-film-series/10000135434667737?ref=eventlist-new-online&aff=u1gjbz

 

Watch Party for “The Antidote” – This film weaves together stories of kindness, decency, and the power of community in America. It’s about everyday people who make the intentional choice to lift others up, despite fundamentally unkind realities in our society that contradict the founding ideals of our country. It’s about who we are and maybe, who we can be. 

Event Date:  Sun Jan 17 2021 at 7:30 pm

Event Location:   https://amz.onl/ilPVccC.

 

LOCAL AND IN-PERSON:  MLK Day of Service Volunteer Opportunities

Event Date:  Monday, January 18, 2021

The United Way of Greater Charlottesville in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy and AmeriCorps present projects in conjunction with MLK Day of Service. MLK Day is our nation’s only National Day of Service. We hope you can take time on or around this day to connect with a nonprofit. These projects and more make a difference in our community. To find more information about nonprofits, ongoing volunteer needs, and volunteer coordinator contact information visit cvillevolunteer.org. 

Please note: space is limited for all projects due to Covid-19 protocols and restrictions.

  • Join the B.F. Yancey Community Food Pantry for a food box packing volunteer opportunity. Two to three additional packing volunteers are needed on January 20th from 12-3:30 pm. Mask-wearing and social distancing will be enforced. Teens are welcome accompanied by an adult volunteer. Email or call Anna Porter to register for a spot (aporter@unitedwaycville.org; 434-972-1715)

  • Join the B.F. Yancey Community Food Pantry for a food distribution volunteer opportunity. One to two additional food distribution volunteers are needed on January 9th between the hours of 8:30 to 12:30 pm and on January 22nd from 2 to 6 pm. Mask-wearing and social distancing will be enforced. Teens are welcome accompanied by an adult volunteer. Email or call Anna Porter to register for a spot (aporter@unitedwaycville.org; 434-972-1715).

  • Join The Nature Conservancy and Charlottesville Parks on January 15 to remove invasive English ivy from trees at Northeast Park! Please bring your own gloves. To sign up contact Caitlin Embly, AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator, at caitlin.embly@tnc.org.

  • Join The Nature Conservancy on MLK Day itself (January 18) to clean up your watershed. This cleaning will remove plastic bottles and other debris from various locations in Charlottesville like Meadow Creek and Pollock’s Branch. Trash bags and gloves will be provided. To sign up contact Caitlin Embly, AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator, at caitlin.embly@tnc.org.

  • Join The Nature Conservancy and Charlottesville Parks on January 18 to remove invasive kudzu vines from trees at Fry’s Spring! Meet next to 122 Park Road, off JPA Extended by Fry’s Spring Beach Club. Please bring your own gloves. To sign up contact Caitlin Embly, AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator, at caitlin.embly@tnc.org.

  • Join Crozet Trails Crew on January 18 for a trail improvement project! This project will help improve the drainage of a pedestrian tunnel in Crozet by moving and spreading gravel across the walkway. Equipment will be provided. To sign up contact Caitlin Embly, AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator, at caitlin.embly@tnc.org.

  • Join Wildrock a Playscape Spruce-Up on January 18! Volunteers will help with a variety of jobs, such as putting down flagstone to lead to a rock outcropping play area, collecting sticks to refurbish a giant play nest, sanding and putting lindseed oil on the mud kitchen, and helping put gravel on paths around the playscape. Equipment will be provided. To sign up contact Caitlin Embly, AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator, at caitlin.embly@tnc.org.

* Volunteers must read and sign our COVID field guidelines and answer health screening questions.

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Afton Virginia 22920
phone (540) 456-8450
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