By Madison Fisler Lewis
Jan. 14, 2015. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a holiday celebrating the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. falls on the third Monday of January each year. This year, it will be observed on Monday, Jan. 19, but the High Country will play host to a full week of events celebrating the civil rights leader from Jan. 18-24.
The events, which will be held everywhere from Appalachian State University to the Watauga County Public Library, will strive to commemorate King’s achievements and pull the community together.
From a release from the Watauga branch of the NAACP:
Programing by local churches and organizations has brought life to Dr. King’s message of hope and unity among diverse people in our county as a whole and on the Appalachian State University campus. Dialogues on civil rights, religious tolerance, and unity; art activities for children; a lecture and visit to campus by civil rights leader Julian Bond; the MLK challenge – a day of service to the community; music; and a radio program featuring our children’s response to “what the dream means to me” are all part of this year’s events.
On Monday, Jan. 19, Appalachian State University will celebrate MLK Day with the 16th annual MLK Challenge, an annual initiative that challenges participants to complete a full day of service with Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT). To register, students should head to Legends at 8 a.m. for placement on a service team.
Appalachian State University will host a Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Event featuring civil rights activist and professor Julian Bond at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts at Appalachian State University on Friday, Jan. 23. This event is sponsored by the Chancellor’s Commission on Diversity and the Office of Multicultural Student Development. Starting at 7 p.m., the event is free and open to the public.
The Watauga County branch of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) has released a calendar of events that locals and visitors to the High Country can use to know what events will be happening where next week.
The schedule of events is as follows:
Sunday, Jan. 18
- 10 a.m. – “Selma” discussion – United Church of Christ in Zionville
- 11 a.m. – MLK service at High Country United Christian Church
- 11 a.m. – MLK service at Boone Mennonite Brethren Church
- 11 a.m. – Baha’i Devotional Meeting at 283 Westbrook Dr. in Boone
Monday, Jan. 19 – National Day of Service
- 8 a.m.-6 p.m. – 16th annual MLK Challenge at Appalachian State University
- 7 p.m. – 18th annual Unity Service – Mabel United Methodist Church in Zionville
Tuesday, Jan. 20
- 3:30-5 p.m. – “I Have a Dream” people prayer chains at Watauga County Public Library
Wednesday, Jan. 21
- 11 a.m. – “I Have a Dream” people prayer chains and story hour at Watauga County Public Library
Friday, Jan. 23
- 7 p.m. – MLK Commemoration Event at Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts
Saturday, Jan. 24
- 12:05 – Young World Radio “I Have a Dream” Special
For more information about these events and more, click here.
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