ARTISTIC TRIBUTE: One of the many ways to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 19 is a sign-making workshop at the Arts Council of Princeton. All are invited to participate.
By Anne Levin
Soon after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, a campaign to create a federal holiday in his honor began to gather steam. But it wasn’t until 1983 that President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law. And it took three more years until it was finally observed.
Since then, individual states have paid tribute to the civil rights leader on the third Monday in January (his birthday is January 15), some combining the commemorations with other observances.
The annual holiday is more than a day off — it is a day of action and community service. Following are some of the observances taking place in and around Princeton on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is on Monday, January 19.
The Paul Robeson House holds its annual Day of Service Teach-In at Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The day is geared specifically to educators across grade levels and disciplines, and includes guest speakers and small group conversations. The theme is “Where Do We Go From Here?”
“We always try to call the community together to understand the context for how Dr. King’s legacy marries with Paul Robeson and other members of our community,” said Joy Barnes-Johnson, the program committee chair and the head of STEM at Trenton’s Foundation Academies. “We typically add a small history overview from a guest speaker, and this year we have the Rev. Dawrell Rich, who is chaplain at the New Jersey Farm School and an adjunct professor at Montclair State University.”
Rich is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. “Robeson was also a member, and the fraternity is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year,” said Barnes-Johnson. “We’re also thinking about the 250th anniversary of the country. Any organization that’s having a monumental birthday, now is the time to invite a conversation about what it means. As we consider 250, now what?”
Mayor Mark Freda and State Sen. Andrew Zwicker will also be on hand for the event. “In the past, we’ve made most of our sessions about learning,” said Barnes-Johnson. “This is also about service.”
Visit paulrobesonhouseofprinceton.org/events for more information.
As they have in the past, the Princeton Clergy Association and the Princeton-based Coalition for Peace Action are joining forces for the annual Multifaith Service honoring King, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Princeton United Methodist Church, 7 Vandeventer Avenue. The Rev. Maureen Gerald, who is pastor of First Baptist Church of Princeton, will preach a sermon titled “The Beloved Community in an Age of Shrinking Circles.”
Founder and CEO of Momentum Counseling, Coaching, and Consulting LLC, Gerald also serves as a spiritual director at Princeton Theological Seminary. She is board president of the Timbuctoo Historical Society, a nonprofit committed to preserving and uplifting Black history, legacy, and community memory.
In addition to Gerald, diverse faith leaders will co-lead the liturgy, and a community multifaith choir will also perform. A freewill offering will be received during the service, with proceeds split equally between the Poor People’s Campaign, the last King initiated before his assassination; and the Peace Action Education Fund of the Coalition for Peace Action.
The service is also available online. Visit peacecoalition.org for more information.
The Arts Council of Princeton invites the community to a hands-on, free sign-making workshop celebrating King’s life and legacy, from 1-3 p.m. Participatory activities include window sign-making, button-making, and a food drive.
Drawing inspiration from King’s iconic quotes, those taking part are invited to draw, color, and make collages, beginning with a provided template featuring an image and quote. Alternately, participants can start from scratch and create their own designs.
Bring pantry-stable items for a food drive. The Arts Council is at 102 Witherspoon Street. Visit artscouncilofprinceton.org for more information.
The Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS) invites the public to participate in a Land Stewardship Volunteer Session in honor of King in sessions from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. or 1-3 p.m. at the Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve, 57 Mountain Avenue. Working under the guidance of staff, volunteers will perform ecosystem restoration and invasive species removal. The work is focused on a 25-acre riparian restoration project that buffers Mountain Lake and portions of its feeder streams. Visit fopos.org for more information.
For several weeks, West Windsor Arts in Princeton Junction has been collecting items to go into care packages for its eighth annual MLK Day of Service, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
“We’re looking forward to a day on, not a day off,” reads the organization’s website. West Windsor Arts donates the packages to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, the Children’s Home Society, UNICEF of West Windsor, HiTOPS, PEI Kids, Rise Community Services, and Millhill Child and Family Development. People can also create handwritten notes for seniors who are part of Letters Against Isolation program.
Depending on the organization, items sought include new pajamas, dental care items, gently used or new books, handmade or knitted hats and baby blankets, plastic utensils, toddler underwear, lotion, jackets, and gender-affirming clothing. West Windsor Arts is at 952 Alexander Road. Visit westwindsorarts.org for more information.
“Songs of Hope, Courage, and Unity” is the title of a free concert celebrating King at Turning Point Methodist Church in Trenton at 3 p.m. The young performers are the Trenton Children’s Chorus and Trenton Music Makers, who are part of Capital Harmony Works, which has served Trenton area children from K-12 since 2000. The family-friendly event will include several musical genres, as well as readings and reflections on the work of King.
“Our annual MLK celebration concert is always an inspiring experience for both the participating children and the audience,” said Capital Harmony Works Executive Director Niki Spruill, in a press release. “It’s so exciting to have the children from both the chorus and the orchestra come together in common purpose to celebrate Dr. King and his message.”
A freewill offering in support of Capital Harmony Works will be taken at the event. Visit capitalharmony.works for more information.
Efforts to honor King are ongoing at the nine branches of Mercer County Library System, where the annual day of service has been extended into a four-week opportunity. Through February 6, participants can write letters and create cards for homebound Mercer County Meals on Wheels clients.
“In coming together to support seniors in Mercer County, we are working to build the ‘beloved community’ that Dr. King so eloquently envisioned,” said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson in a press release. “A small gesture on our part can mean so much to Meals on Wheels recipients, many of whom have limited mobility and may have fewer opportunities to connect with others.”
Materials are provided at all branches. Visit mcl.org for details.
The James Kerney Campus of Mercer County Community College, at 102 North Broad Street in Trenton, will host community service projects in honor of King from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Projects include food and utensils for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, city streets cleanup, snack packs for children, mission bags distribution, toiletry kits, and more. Visit mccc.edu/mlk_dos for more details.