On Monday, Jan. 21, hundreds of community members will pay tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. during the City of Lafayette’s eighth annual Martin Luther King, Jr. March for Peace and Celebration. Planned in conjunction with the federal King holiday, the event will kick-off with a community march at noon at the southwest corner of West Waneka Parkway and South Public Road. The march will conclude at Escuela Bilingüe Pioneer (the corner of North Public and Baseline Roads), where a celebration and service fair will be underway.
Free and open to the public, the afternoon celebration will include a keynote address by critically acclaimed rapper and poet Molina Speaks and performances by the Shekenah Glory Choir, Angevine Middle School Jazz Band, and the Project YES “Dance for Social Change” group, and by University of Colorado undergraduates reading their original poetry. An inclusive community playback performance by Motus Theater will follow, as will service projects at both Escuela Bilingüe Pioneer and Project YES (805 Excaliber Street).
Originally conceived by service-learning students at Escuela Bilingüe Pioneer in November 2004, the City of Lafayette’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. event historically has been planned by area youth. In keeping with the tradition, this year’s event is being organized by the Lafayette Youth Advisory Committee, which is serving as an event sponsor along with the University of Colorado’s Public Achievement program.
Commenting on the event, University of Colorado junior and Public Achievement teaching assistant Sienna Dellepiane shared, “I think it is critical to honor Dr. King, who was one of the first people to really popularize grassroots movements and empower citizens to respond to social inequalities. It is appropriate that Public Achievement and groups, like the Lafayette Youth Advisory Committee, maintain this annual event, as they directly subscribe to King’s vision.”
Community members are encouraged to meet on the southwest corner of West Waneka Parkway and South Public Road by 11:45 a.m. The first 200 individuals to arrive will receive a free event t-shirt. Nonperishable food items will be collected on behalf of the Sister Carmen Community Center prior to the march and at Escuela Bilingüe Pioneer during the afternoon celebration from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information about the event, visit www.cityoflafayette.com.
The Lafayette Youth Advisory Committee engages Lafayette youth in outreach, advisory, and educational opportunities through solutions-based discourse and action in their community. In addition, the committee advises the City Council on youth related issues and other relevant topics, and fosters youth leadership and civic participation in the greater community. Representing five local middle and high schools, 20 students currently comprise the Lafayette Youth Advisory Committee.
The University of Colorado Boulder’s Public Achievement program is administered by the Institute for Ethical and Civic Engagement with support from INVST Community Studies, the CU-Boulder School of Education, and CU-Boulder Outreach Committee. Launched in January 2008 as part of a statewide civic engagement initiative, Public Achievement currently involves more than 50 CU undergraduates and nearly 200 K-12 students at Columbine Elementary School in North Boulder and Centaurus High School and Escuela Bilingüe Pioneer in Lafayette.