This year, in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, the city of Toledo has partnered with multiple local organizations for an entire weekend of events and activities.
Caryn Maloney, deputy director of the city’s Human Relations Commission, said this is the first year that the city is partnering with other organizations to promote a full weekend of MLK events. The theme this year is, “Every Day Activism.”
With many different partnerships, Ms. Maloney said organizations can offer a broader selection of programs to the community. More minds working together means more ideas for projects.
“Your reach is a lot stronger through partnerships,” she said. “It’s a lot easier to plan when everyone is at the table as well.”
The weekend of events is scheduled to kick off at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at The Pinnacle with the annual scholarship breakfast for the Alpha Xi Lambda chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. On Jan. 17, the city and University of Toledo will host a virtual event from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. featuring keynote speaker Andre Gaines, director of the documentary The One and Only Dick Gregory.
The Toledo Museum of Art is also having a number of events on Jan. 17, according to the city, including a screening of The One and Only Dick Gregory. Dick Gregory was an American comedian and civil rights activist.
The museum isn’t normally open to the public on Monday, but for the event, it is making an exception. It was similarly opened on the holiday last year, and Gary Gonya, director of brand strategy, said especially in light of the pandemic, it’s difficult for people to find a safe place to gather.
“It’s a real honor for us to be open that day,” he said.
A few days before, on Thursday, the museum will also showcase an exhibit of art of the African American South, said Rhonda Sewell, director of belonging and community engagement. Living Legacies: Art of the African American South continues to May 1.
And starting Saturday, officials are encouraging members of the community to call United Way of Greater Toledo’s 2-1-1 to find out where they can volunteer. Participants can record their service hours from Jan. 17 through the end of February, Ms. Maloney said, to be part of the 40 Days of Service initiative.
Last year’s event was virtual, Ms. Maloney said, but it was also well attended and received more than 20,000 views. While there is no substitute for the sense of community that an in-person event can bring, she also noted that virtual events can potentially reach a wider audience.
In the future, she said, it’s possible that the holiday will be celebrated by a mixture of in-person and virtual programs.
Part of the event’s importance is in remembering and honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., Ms. Maloney said, but it’s also to highlight that the work still isn’t done.
“What he was fighting for still rings true today,” she said.
First Published January 9, 2022, 6:44 p.m.
