Numerous Local Events to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Including 9th Annual March on Main Street and Concert by Josh White Jr.

“The Power of Peace, Love, and Respect” is the theme inspiring a

series of local events honoring the Dr. King Holiday, including a film

discussion, charity event, community volunteer fair, and concert by Josh

White Jr.

The Huron Valley Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (HVMLKDay) Committee

is pleased to announce the details of 2014’s celebration of the Dr. King

national holiday which falls on Monday, January 20th. This year, area

residents will have more opportunities than ever before to participate

in the spirit of Dr. King’s legacy as numerous events will take place

throughout the weekend preceding the holiday as well as on the day

itself.


“This is an exciting development for our committee,” said Committee

Chair Isaac Perry. “The fact that more organizations are hosting MLK

Day-related events to compliment our annual March on Main Street

highlights the growing interest and enthusiasm people have regarding

this day and its message of service to the community.”

The HVMLKDay Committee’s mission is to host a series of events open

to everyone in the Huron Valley Community and the Metro Detroit Area

that provide opportunities for coming together to serve the beloved

community, while celebrating the teachings and life of Dr. Martin Luther

King Jr. The committee, which is made up of community volunteers, has

organized Milford’s March on Main Street since 2005. Working in

partnership with the Huron Valley School District and informed by the

King Holiday and Service Act, passed by Congress in 1994, designating

the King Holiday as a national day of volunteer service, the HVMLKDay

committee intends to make MLK Day a Day ON rather than a Day OFF by

meeting Congress’s challenge to Americans of all backgrounds and ages to

celebrate Dr. King's legacy by turning community concerns into citizen

action.


As the Corporation for National and Community Service asserts, “The King

Day of Service brings together people who might not ordinarily meet,

breaks down barriers that have divided us in the past, leads to better

understanding and ongoing relationships, and is an opportunity to

reflect on Dr. King's life and teachings.”


Plans honoring the holiday include:

Saturday, January 18th – Dr. King Biography and Discussion


Sunday, January 19th – America’s Sunday Supper


The Huron Valley Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration will kick

off on Saturday, January 18th with a short biographical film on Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr. followed by a discussion on "Human Rights, Past

and Present" facilitated by Janet Pound. The event will run from 2:00 to

5:00 p.m. at Highland Township Auditorium (205 N. John Road, Highland,

MI 48357) and is sponsored by Baha'is of Huron Valley. For more

information on the event contact Fariba Hickinson (248-760- 7992), Linda

Crawford (248-889-2734), or email HuronvalleyBahais@yahoo.com.

Milford United Methodist Church will continue to host America’s

Sunday Supper the evening before the holiday, Sunday, January 19th. This

event will start at 5:30 p.m. with a no-charge community supper

followed by a musical program with a message by "Brother to Brother," a

duo performing vocal and instrumental music. The program ends with a

candlelight tribute to MLK at 8pm. A free-will offering will be taken to

cover meal expenses and a donation to the musicians. For more

information on the event, contact Pastor Sherry Foster at the church:

248 684 2798.

Monday, January 20th – March on Main Street, Concert and Volunteer Fair


The HVMLK Day Committee will host the 9th annual March on Main Street

from Prospect Hill to Central Park starting at 1:00 p.m. (lineup begins

at 12:15 with music, information and free refreshments) on January 20th.

During the line-up ceremony, the committee will award the winners of

the Art, Writing, and Multimedia Contest. As in previous years, winners

and selected submissions will be on display in the storefront windows of

several downtown businesses during the week before the march.

Participants in the march are encouraged to head to downtown Milford for

lunch and to view the competition submissions before heading to

Prospect Hill for line-up.


Following the March will be a Community Volunteer Fair at Milford

Presbyterian Church which will showcase this year’s main music

performer, Josh White Jr., as well as local charities, non-profits,

projects, and many other opportunities for local citizens young and old

to give back to needy families, network with other volunteers in the

area, and learn about how to donate time and energy for the betterment

of Huron Valley. The Community Volunteer Fair, which will run from 2:00

to 4:00 p.m., is meant to encourage service throughout the year so that

the impact of honoring MLK Day will become more than just a single-day

observance. The HVMLK Day Committee hopes that by offering many

opportunities for service, from simple beautification and maintenance

projects to supporting local charities and churches in their efforts,

families from all over Huron Valley will discover the joy and

satisfaction that comes with volunteering resources, time, energy, and

effort in order to make our area a reflection of the dream of Dr. Martin

Luther King Jr.


Josh White Jr., an accomplished and highly regarded artist, musician,

actor, teacher, and social activist, will not only perform at the

conclusion of the march in Central Park, but he will also perform a full

hour concert at the Volunteer Fair. Josh White Jr. brings to Milford

decades of experience dating back to the 1940s in entertainment and

education, and the HVMLKDay Committee is excited to include his wisdom,

energy, and passion as a part of the afternoon’s events. A full

biography of Josh White Jr. can be found at

http://www.joshwhitejr.com/bio.html


All events offered by the HVMLK Day Committee are free and open to the

public. For more information on Huron Valley’s MLK Day activities, visit

the committee’s website www.HVMLKDay.org, like them on Facebook, or

contact Isaac Perry at 248-685-7254.