Hundreds of people will participate in a two-day community celebration Sunday and Monday in Everett honoring the legacy of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
With the theme “Mission Possible: Working together to achieve the dream,” the community celebration takes place Jan. 19 and 20. The first day is a Sunday Service at First Presbyterian Church, 2936 Rockefeller Ave., in Everett from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The second day features a march and rally that begins 11 a.m. at Everett Memorial Stadium, 3900 Broadway, and ends at the Carl Gipson Center on Lombard Avenue.
“This is an opportunity to come and show support to honor the life and legacy of a great human being,” said DanVo’nique Bletson-Reed, president of the Snohomish County Black Heritage Committee and chair of the community celebration. “It’s good to remember, it’s good to reflect, and it’s good to celebrate.”
Marysville resident J.J. Frank will deliver the keynote address during Sunday’s service. In addition to being executive director for the Marysville Y, he is also an elder and assistant pastor at Bible Way Victory Community Church of God in Christ in Everett.
“I’m just very honored they are allowing me to be the keynote,” Frank said.
He is planning to talk about working in the middle to find solutions that bring people together. He highlighted several issues where people could unite – alleviating poverty and homelessness, reducing addiction, and fighting against racism.
“I want to remind us that we are the United States of America,” Frank said.
In addition, Wil Johnson, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for Snohomish County, is scheduled to speak, Bletson-Reed said.
Johnson said he will speak about the theme of the community celebration.
He said he feels like there is a lot of conversation over equity, inclusion and social justice, but sometimes people don’t feel included. “How do we really work to have our voices heard in multiple settings,” Johnson questioned.
He will also read aloud the county proclamation during the Jan. 20 rally.
Bletson-Reed said the community celebration on Sunday will have a gospel flavor. “We want to pay homage to that part of who he was.”
A community choir, open to everyone from different faith groups, will form and sing during the service. “If you want to sing, you have an opportunity to make a joyful noise.”
Youth will be recognized in the Prodigy for Peace Essay and Art Contest, which honors Eric Z. Lucas, who was the first Black Superior Court judge in Snohomish County. The first and second place winners of the contest will speak Sunday.
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King community celebration has been taking place annually since 1984, and Bletson-Reed said it’s the longest running one in Snohomish County. After being held virtually in 2021, the celebration became a two-day event in 2022, according to the Snohomish County Black Heritage Committee website.
Frank also mentioned the Marysville Y is organizing a service project that takes place Jan. 20. Volunteers will make care packages that will be delivered to seniors at Grandview Village located across the street from the Marysville Y.
He said seniors “took a big hit during COVID,” and isolation has been a problem.
“We want to make sure seniors know they are loved and cared for,” Frank said.
Other YMCA branches throughout Snohomish County also have service projects scheduled for its “MLK Day of Service” taking place Jan. 20.
Everett’s Y will organize a supply drive for the animal shelter, volunteers at Monroe/Sky Valley Y will help stock shelves at the Sky Valley Food Bank and volunteers at the Mill Creek Y will also help at a local food bank, according to the YMCA of Snohomish County website.
“We have to make an effort to be peaceful. We have to make an effort to be hopeful,” Bletson-Reed said.
Imagine Children’s Museum MLK events
The Imagine Children’s Museum, 1502 Wall St, Everett, will be hosting events for children and families to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 18, 19 and 20. Regular admission of $22 applies (only $3 if family is on SNAP benefits). Infants free.
The events will include:
• Friendship Bracelet Exchange: Choose a handmade bracelet, then make one of your own.
• Footprints: Design and decorate footprint cutouts with ideas for spreading kindness and embracing Dr. King’s values.
• “We Have a Dream” Quilt: Families are invited to use fabric pens to add designs to a quilt which will be displayed in the museum.
• Parade: Each day at 1 p.m., children and families can decorate their own flags to carry in a lively parade through the museum.
