Bevy of events on tap to honor MLK’s legacy

PBS NewsHour Correspondent Yamiche Alcindor is the keynote speaker at a UMass Amherst’s National Day of Racial Healing event on Tuesday afternoon. AP
Published: 01-14-2025 1:20 PM |
Area residents will have an opportunity to celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., both in the lead up to the Jan. 20 holiday and during a National Day of Service on Monday, as well as participate in the National Day of Racial Healing the following day.
The Greater Holyoke Council for Human Understanding is holding its annual MLK Jr. Commemorative Breakfast and fundraising event Friday at 8 a.m. at Summit View restaurant, located at 555 Northampton St., Holyoke.
Shannon Rudder, president and CEO of the MLK Community Center in Springfield, will be the speaker, with music provided by the Bethlehem Baptist Community Choir from Holyoke. Tickets are $39.99 per person for the breakfast buffet and money raised benefits scholarships provided by the council.
Then, on Monday’s holiday, the town of Amherst is putting together a National Day of Service that coincides with state Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, sponsoring a food collection drive for the Amherst Survival Center.
“As we honor Dr. King’s vision, we invite all residents, families, and organizations to take part in acts of kindness throughout the day,” Town Manager Paul Bockelman said in a statement. He encourages people to “make it a day on,” rather than a day off, by cleaning up a local trail, helping neighbors in need, donating blood or otherwise spreading positivity. “Every act of service, big or small, makes a difference,” he said.
Part of the day will include a workshop for people to make cards with positive messages, which will go to residents participating in Meals on Wheels, public service employees who keep the community safe, teachers, librarians, bus drivers and others. Amherst Recreation is overseeing the card making at the Bangs Community Center, Room 101, from 1 to 3 p.m. People can also drop off cards they make at home throughout the week at the Senior Center, for the Meals on Wheels participants, and at the Collectors Office at Town Hall for others.
In a similar vein on Monday, at the Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity in Florence, an MLK Day Service Fair is being held, with community organizations presenting information about how people can help them with their missions. This will run from 10 a.m. to noon at Bombyx, 130 Pine St. Both Beit Ahavah, the Reform Synagogue, and the Florence Congregational Church, are co-sponsoring the event.
While the acts of kindness take place, the Light and Love Dr. MLK Jr. Day Community Food Drive is organized by Domb, with non-perishable food items to be collected at designated collection points throughout Amherst.
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“Food insecurity levels are even higher than they were during the pandemic,” Amherst Survival Center Executive Director Lev BenEzra said in a statement. “Use of our food pantry is 70% higher every month than during the highest peaks of the pandemic.”
Suggested donation items include canned beans, peanut butter, soups, cereal, pasta and rice. Donations can be dropped off at collection boxes in Town Hall, the Bangs Center, the police station, Jones Library, North Amherst Library, Munson Library and Grace Episcopal Church. People can also drop off their donations directly at the Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road, on Monday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Also on Monday, Northampton Neighbors will present a MLK Day “Friendsgiving” celebration at 2 p.m. at the Walter Salvo House cafeteria on Conz Street in Northampton. Food will be served.
The following day is the National Day of Racial Healing.
The Amherst Department of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion will be observing the day as part of its ongoing “Becoming Beloved Community” with an event from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Amherst Regional Middle School cafeteria, 170 Chestnut St. The community discussion is focused on racial healing and racial equity. Food and refreshments will be provided. To register, go to bit.ly/amherst-NDORH-2025
Launched in 2017, the day is an opportunity to bring people together to inspire collective action to build common ground for a more just and equitable world. Learn more at dayofracialhealing.org.
The University of Massachusetts is holding a community gathering that day, as well, with featured speaker Yamiche Alcindor, an NBC News correspondent based in Washington, D.C. Alcindor has written extensively about the intersection of race and politics and reported on the presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the legacy of President Barack Obama and broader effects of police violence on communities and children.
Put on by the Office of Equity and Inclusion, the event runs from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Student Union Ballroom. A livestream will also be available, and for those who attend in person, free parking is at the Campus Center parking garage.
Like at UMass, Amherst College’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on Tuesday will have The MLK Day Longest Table Dinner and Dialogue, a community event that brings people together for a shared meal and conversation. That is set for 5 to 6:30 p.m. at The Inn at Boltwood, with online registration required.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com