BY BRANDY TEMPLETON
A large crowd of students from various backgrounds participated in activities honoring the life’s work of Martin Luther King Jr. at the Unity Center in Statesville on Saturday.
Participants packed care bags for the homeless community and made cards for senior shut-ins. There were also opportunities for painting, writing inspirational dream poems and other activities.
Pamela Johnson, a teacher at ASEC and head of the Statesville Branch NAACP’s youth advocacy group, coordinated the different areas of interest to bring children closer to MLK’s life and dream. Marlene Scott, Iredell-Statesville Schools director of community relations, and Statesville Councilwoman Kimberly Wasson were also instrumental in facilitating the activities.
Referencing a John Legend song, Johnson said, “It takes the wisdom of the elders and young people’s energy“ to accomplish tasks.
“We have civil rights leaders in our own community that do amazing things every day. Our goal now is to unite youth to carry that torch and continue the work,” she said.
The importance of carrying the torch was emphasized through informative videos highlighting MLK’s leadership and the iconic “I have a Dream” speech being recited.
Participants then helped pack necessity bags for the homeless, a task accomplished quickly by working together. Next, the youth made encouraging cards for elderly shut-ins.
Participants then moved on to their activity of choice, also working together to learn and accomplish goals together.
“The educator in me loved seeing the children learn,” Johnson said
She shared how the activities were relevant, with children analyzing MLK’s quotes in the art session. In the culinary session, they read, measured, and made recipes from the 1950s, and in the Dream Team session children discussed their goals and how to reach them.
Young children colored, painted, and listened to stories about MLK.
The day was a success, Johnson said, because it honored MLK by teaching service, education, perseverance, justice and teamwork.
“It’s amazing how much good can be done when people come together,” Johnson said.
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