Commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day At These Brooklyn Events
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is this coming Monday, January 18, and Brooklyn organizations and leaders are honoring what would have been his 87th birthday (today, January 15) with a week-long celebration of speaking events, movie screenings, and volunteer opportunities.
Thanks go out to Olanike Alabi, 57th Assembly District Leader, and Councilmember Laurie Cumbo for getting the word out about several of these events. Let us know if there’s anything we’re missing by emailing editor@bklyner.com and we’ll add the details to this list!
Special Screenings: “Eyes on the Prize”
Tuesday-Thursday, January 12-14 at the Dweck Center, Central Library
7:30pm
Eyes on the Prize is an award-winning 14-hour television series produced and narrated by the late Julian Bond. Through contemporary interviews and historical footage, the series covers all of the major events of the civil rights movement from 1954-1985: from the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1954 to the Voting Rights Act in 1965; from community power in schools to “Black Power” in the streets; from early acts of individual courage through to the flowering of a mass movement and its eventual split into factions.
MLK Commemoration Breakfast and Intergenerational Dialogue
Friday, January 15 at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, 760 DeKalb Avenue
9:30am – 12pm
Facilitator: Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions; Pastor: Rev. Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood
Creative Art Workshop: I Have a Dream
Saturday, January 16 at Dweck Center, Central Library
11:00am-12:00pm
Create a colorful “I Have a Dream” work of art and celebrate Dr. King’s dream, and yours, with artist Angeli Rasbury. This event is for youth and families.
Together Against Gun Violence
Saturday, January 16 at Calvary Community Church, 1575 St. Johns Place
11am
Speaker: Rev. Daryl Bloodsaw
MLK Academic Arts Fest
Saturday, January 16 at Zion Baptist Church, 523 Washington Avenue
12pm
Theme: Bringing clergy and neighborhoods. Sponsors: Rev. Kevin Jones & Brooklyn Clergy and Action Network 2 Save Our Communities (BCAN2SOC).
15th Annual Martin Luther King Concert and Celebration
Saturday, January 16 at Brooklyn Music School, 126 St. Felix Street
5pm
Brooklyn Music School’s 15th annual MLK Concert will feature a variety of musical and dance styles that celebrate the legacy of Dr. King, like gospel, hip hop, jazz and Afro-Cuban. Performers will include the Arts Reaching Youth Choir, the Choir on Fire, the BMS rock and jazz bands, and a djembe drum set by the World Percussion Center of New York. This year’s concert honoree will be Shawn Dove, the CEP of Campaign for Black Achievement.
Tickets are $5 with a “pay what you can” option at the door.
6th Annual 72-Hour Martin Luther King Renovation Project (VOLUNTEERING)
Sunday, January 17 at Concord Baptist Clothing Exchange – 831 Marcy Avenue
8am
Help local group 500 Men Making a Difference touch up the Concord Baptist Clothing Exchange with renovations. The improvements are set to include painting and cleaning and will continue through Monday. The Bed-Stuy non-profit hosts an MLK volunteer event each year. In 2015, they worked to restore the Magnolia Tree Earth Center.
MLK Celebration And Talk
Sunday, January 17 at First Baptist Church of Crown Heights, 450 Eastern Parkway
10:30am
Speaking will be Congressmember Hakeem Jeffries.
MLK Jr. Day Storytelling and Music
Sunday, January 17 at Grace Reformed Church — 1800 Bedford Avenue
11am
Students from Medgar Evers College and LIU Brooklyn will perform dance, acapella, storytelling, poetry and more at this sixth annual MLK Jr. Day event hosted by the Prospect-Lefferts Gardens Neighborhood Association.
Discussion Panel: Martin Luther King, Jr. and Social Justice
, January 17 at Dweck Center, Central Library
12:30-2:30pm
Panelists reflect on Reverend King’s social and Christian philosophies in light of today’s social and activist movements. Moderated by Michael Partis, Research and Policy Director of Young Movement, Inc., and Ph.D. Candidate, CUNY Graduate Center.
Urban Farming Training School Renovation & Beautification (VOLUNTEER OPP.)
Monday, January 18 at PS 307 at 209 York Street
10am-3pm
Whether you’re an urban gardening vet or a newbie who has a love for all things green, this is the project of your dreams! 20+ volunteers will help bring this elementary school’s dream to life—assisting with building vegetable beds, assembling compost bins and constructing benches. Family-friendly.
Onsite Contact: Amelia, (718) 938-2543
30th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, January 18 at Brooklyn Academy of Music, 30 Lafayette Avenue
10:30am
The event is free, but tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.
Speaker: Michael Eric Dyson. Sponsors: BAM, Borough President Eric Adams, Medgar Evers College,
“Living Out the Legacy of Sacrificial Service”
Monday, January 18 at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 279 Lafayette Avenue
10:30am
Led by Reverend Anthony Trufant. Speaker: Dr. Harry White (Raleigh, NC)
Celebration of MLK. Jr.’s Life
Monday, January 18 at 11am at Zion Baptist Church, 523 Washington Avenue
11am
Speaker:Rev. Dr. Gus Roman (Philadelphia, PA). Reverend M.M. Peace
31st Annual Family Celebration of Dr. King’s Work And Legacy
Monday, January 18 at Prospect Heights Educational Campus at 883 Classon Avenue
12:45pm doors open; 1:30-3:30pm
Every child attending will receive a gift. Free raffle drawing. Winners of Essay, Poetry and Art Contests will present work. Appearances by special guests.
A Community Celebration of MLK Jr Day
Monday, January 18 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 230 Classon Avenue
4pm
A program of readings and music, featuring artists from Brooklyn and Greater New York. Suggested donation of $15, with a senior discount of $10.
Free Concert: A Shared Dream tribute
Monday, January 18 at Brooklyn College’s Walt Whitman Theater at 2900 Campus Road
6pm
This year’s tribute will feature gospel musician, producer and songwriter Ricky Dillard as the headliner. This free annual musical tribute hosted by WBLS Radio Personality Liz Black features a diverse array of musical acts including community groups such as the Brooklyn United Marching Band, and Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy. Senator Kevin Parker (SD-21), the founder of A Shared Dream Foundation, which produces the event, will be joined on stage by community, religious, and political leaders to reflect upon and pay tribute to Dr. King’s life and legacy.
FDNY MLK Jr Celebration
Wednesday, January 20 at FDNY HQ Auditorium — 9 Metrotech Center
5:30pm (Doors open at 5pm)
The FDNY cordially invites you to attend an evening celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and honoring members of the FDNY for their hard work, dedication and commitment to public service.
RSVP by January 18, 2016 to clement.james@fdny.nyc.gov or 718-999-1460