On Monday, January 18, the Milwaukee Public Library will host a virtual celebration for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The celebration is typically a daylong event at the Martin Luther King, Jr. branch, but this year’s events have been shifted online to ensure community safety during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Milwaukee Youth Council fully supports the event and is encouraging Milwaukee residents to join in the celebration.
Youth Council member Biak Tha Hlawn said the program is perfect for families and children looking for positive content and energy.
“It is extremely important for the Youth Council and the City of Milwaukee to celebrate the MLK Jr. Day program and to honor Dr. King’s rich legacy,” Ms. Hlawn said. “As we enter into a new era of social reform and as we strive for racial equality, it is especially relevant to respect the work and sacrifices of previous leaders like MLK, and we hope everyone takes some time out of their day to stop by this virtual meeting to partake in the celebration.”
The program is presented in partnership with the Milwaukee Public Library Teen Advisory Board and is funded by the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation. This year’s celebration is centered on one of Martin Luther King Jr.’s central ideologies, “Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere.”
The events will feature live online programming including:
•Noon: A visit with local world-renowned artist Charly Palmer (Register in advance)
•1 p.m. Presentation of the #MLKMPL2021 Challenge Video and announcement of the winners of the Alpha Phi Alpha Daily Youth Trivia Contest
•2 p.m. A conversation on the past, present and future of the Civil Rights Movement in America with Daphne Barbee-Wooten, a civil rights attorney and daughter of Lloyd Barbee, and educator Terrence Roberts, one of the Little Rock Nine (Register in advance)
All of the day’s events can be viewed live on: MPL’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. King Day Celebration packets can also be picked up at all MPL locations at no cost while supplies last.
Additional information, booklists, and a list of organizations where patrons can volunteer to support equity, diversity and inclusion can be found on the library’s website at mpl.org/MLKDay.
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