Free events for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Image via WikipediaI’m writing this post from Arizona, where I’ll be until the end of the month. I’ve been watching the news of the weather in Seattle; I’m not sure how this will impact events happening tomorrow, but I wanted to put up this post on events for Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. If the weather does seem inclement, please do call ahead before heading out!

Monday, January 16

• All day: You can search on the MLKDay.gov website for volunteer opportunities for the MLK Day of Service. “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, ‘Life's most persistent and urgent question is: “What are you doing for others?”’ Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on the King Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities. The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President's national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems.”
• 11am-2pm: Martin Luther King Jr Day Celebration at Northwest African American Museum. “Dreamin’, presented by Community For Youth.  Join Community For Youth, SPLAB (The SPokenword LAB)  and singer/songwriter IFE for a day of spoken word and discussion, to honor civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. Open mic opportunities will be available to the public to perform a poem, song, short story or other creative expressions. Sign-ups begin at 11:00 am. We will also be showing a film. Enjoy free admission all day to see our permanent history exhibit and Xenobia Bailey: The Aesthetics of Funk.”
• 2-3pm: Total Experience Gospel Choir - Rev. Dr. M. L. King Day Celebration at Third Place Books. “There could be no better way to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King than with this internationally acclaimed gospel singing choir. This is part of the Music of the Americas series made possible by a grant from 4Culture.”

Tuesday, January 17, 7pm: Carlotta Walls LaNier: "A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice of Little Rock Central High School” at Seattle University. “Free and open to the public; RSVP to oma-rsvp@seattleu.edu or 206.296.6070. Seattle University’s 2012 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration features Congressional Gold Medal winner and civil rights hero Carlotta Walls LaNier, who in 1957 joined eight classmates to desegregate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.  The courage of the Little Rock Nine in the face of violence, hostility, and discrimination catalyzed the Civil Rights Movement and mobilized post-Brown v. Board of Education desegregation of public schools in the U.S.  After her graduation from Central High School in 1960, Mrs. LaNier attended Michigan State University for two years and then graduated in 1968 from Colorado State College, now the University of Northern Colorado, on whose board of trustees she sits.  Mrs. LaNier serves as the president of the Little Rock Nine Foundation and is the author of A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice of Little Rock Central High School.”