The late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is known for being a great civil rights leader, humanitarian and and all around servant to others and one of his most famous quotes is asking what he called one of life’s “most persistent and urgent” questions: ‘What are you doing for others? Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve.”
Service to others will be the theme this year at the Yale Peabody Museum 30th year of celebration around King, to be held Monday, Jan. 19 from noon to 4 p.m. on the federal holiday marked in his honor.
The event that draws thousands is free to the public and includes panel discussions, entertainment, poetry, music and more.
Honoring the theme of service to others, there will be more than a dozen community organizations at the Peabody to share their offerings and “provide a way for individuals to more deeply connect to the New Haven community,” a Peabody spokesman said.
On July 13, Bristol’s MLK Mural was presented at the Primo Press building on Riverside Avenue. From left: Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou and Barbara Hudson. Angelou was an American memoirist, popular poet, and civil rights activist. Hudson traveled extensively and was nationally recognized as a lecturer, art consultant and curator of African American Art. (Douglas Hook / Hartford Courant)
That includes those looking for help and those looking to help others.
“We aspire to hold an event that is rooted in service and rising in community. What we’ve learned is that by coming together and leaning on one another, we can create a more just community,” said Andrea Motto, assistant director of Public Education & Outreach.
Motto said the event started 30 years ago with a partnership of community leaders.
Another great civil rights leader, John Lewis, has said famously that MLK day should be a day on, not a day off, she said.
Visitors will be able to connect with justice-connected services.
There will be conversations about black librarianship, local justice, Black History, voter rights, Motto said, “noting the space is full of people, warmth and positive energy.”
“It feels great to make this museum a space where good people come together and do good work,” she said.
The Peabody will pay tribute to King’s work by hosting experiences focused on civil rights and food, educational, racial, and environmental justice from organizations in New Haven.
Student performers from New Haven public schools will share music and dance throughout the Peabody’s galleries, Peabody educators will offer fun interactive activities for kids.
“This is one of the most exciting days of the year at the Peabody. Recognizing the importance of Dr. King’s legacy has long been something the Peabody has sought to do and this new format deepens that work,” said interim director Erika Edwards.
In addition, the Peabody will host the “Z Experience Poetry Slam” in Central Gallery from 5 to 7 p.m. This long-running spoken word event is popular, free and suggested for adults.
“Spoken word poetry honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s remarkable skill as an orator, who himself used the form to fuel the civil rights movement,” said David Heiser, director of student programs.
King’s actual birthday is Jan. 15 and this year he would have been 97 years old. He was assassinated in 1968 at age 39.
The schedule of events is as follows:
- Noon to 4 p.m. Social Justice & Service Resource Fair – Central Gallery;
- 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Drop-in Zine Making – Room 112;
- 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., Conversation Circles – Central Gallery;
- Noon to 4 p.m. Hands-on activities, crafts and NHPS Musical Performances throughout the Galleries;
- 4 to 4:45 p.m. Community Open Mic – David Friend Hall;
- 5 to 7 p.m. – Z Experience Poetry Slam, Central Gallery.