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The spirit, legacy and dreams of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. remain alive in our area and will be on display again this holiday weekend.
Pupils, parents, business leaders, civic and community leaders, senior citizens and others from across the Tri-State Area will have the chance to come together and remember King's visions of equality, racial justice and nonviolent approach to bringing about social change.
Activities in our area begin Sunday evening, when the annual ecumenical service is held at 6 p.m. at Calvary Church at 255 N. Fifth St. in Steubenville. The Rev. James Brown, pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church in Weirton, will be the guest speaker for the event.
On Monday, the focus shifts to the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center on Market Street. There, Carol Ann Simmons, will offer a reflection of King's life and accomplishments beginning at 11 a.m. Simmons is secretary of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Steubenville and president of the National Action Network Steubenville Chapter. She will be joined by the Rev. Buena Smith Dudley, pastor of Quinn Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Michael Jett, elder at Mount Zion Baptist Church.
Also Monday, the MLK association and Sycamore Youth Center, located at 301 N. Fourth St., will partner for the sixth-annual youth and children's event beginning at 10 a.m. Open to everyone, but geared to those between the ages of 5 and 18, the event will feature youth performances, including multiple Valley's Got Talent Winners. Performers include hip-hop artist CBE 180, mime performer Jasmine Wooden, hip-hop artist Gene "Minister of Truth" Shelby, hip-hop artist JR Lawrence Lewis, the Mount Zion Youth Choir, dancers and VGT winners Lynzee Ensell and Dalana Bove and VGT winner and hip-hop artist Elisha Fletcher.
Alexandra "Cookie" West, founder of the Lee Alexander West Spiritual Movement, will deliver the keynote address at 11 a.m., challenging young people to take action in their own lives and be active community participants. There also will be lunch and a birthday cake and the chance for participants to participate in community service events.
MLK association members have been busy during the past week putting final touches on their events and placing banners that celebrate the life of King, who was born in Atlanta on Jan. 15, 1929. Those banners can be seen in front of Historic Fort Steuben Park on Third Street in Steubenville, at the Steubenville-Wintersville line, near the Franklin Street exit from state Route 7 in Toronto and at the Commercial Street exit in Mingo Junction.
Working to make this weekend another successful event are members of the MLK association. Joining Simmons on that board are President Jim Baber, Treasurer Sharon Kirtdoll, Financial Secretary Cydnie Howard and Publicity Co-Chair the Rev. Benjamin Calvert II. Their dedication to ensuring King's message is passed to new generations can be seen in the quality of the events, which are free and open to the public. Bobbyjon Bauman, director of the Sycamore Center, also plays an integral role in the commemoration.
In Weirton, King's memory will be celebrated with the annual MLK Walk along Weir Avenue at 11 a.m. followed by a performance of the play "An Interview with Coretta Scott King" at the Dunbar Recreation Center at 300 Kessel St. during a noon luncheon. Using Mrs. King's own words, the audience will have an opportunity to learn about King's spouse and partner. The 30-minute production is sponsored by the center and the Ohio Valley Cloak and Dagger Company.
Each year since 1983, the third Monday in January has been recognized as Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It's a chance to reflect and recognize his many contributions.