Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
January 11, 2007 issue
I Have A Dream Week: Celebrating the Vision and Life of Martin Luther King Jr.
Story by Celeste von Mangan
Martin Luther King Day is officially observed on the third Monday in January, but many communities across the nation hold weeklong celebrations to honor King’s life of service. The mayors of Boone and Blowing Rock, ASU’s chancellor, the Watauga County commissioners and the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce have proclaimed Saturday, January 13, through Sunday, January 21, as I Have A Dream Week.
Now in its ninth year, I Have A Dream Week features 15 community events and activities. Some are perennial favorites, and some new activities are on the list this year.
“The new Thai restaurant has joined the program,” said Mary Gray, coordinator for the I Have A Dream Task Force. “They are encouraging people to have lunch there and they are holding special art programs. Ray McNiece is performing and leading the poetry slam with This is Who We Are—Connections Through Poetry. He was here last year and it was packed out. There just seems to be such a hunger for that sort of thing. A program that is very dear to our hearts because of its wide reach is the radio show I Have A Dream Special on the Young World Radio Show. It is a one-hour children’s radio tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Two new programs include a Chinese lanterns workshop at The Children’s Playhouse and a program hosted by the Baha’i community with the theme Attracting Peace.
“Instead of focusing on all the wars,” said Gray, “we are going to focus on what we can do to attract peace into our individual lives and communities. Another thing we really love is the annual Unity Service, which predates I Have A Dream Week by one year. It is a very special program involving people of different faiths. I have a very soft spot for that program. They are out in the sticks, yet they have taken us on. There are also different programs being held in the schools for that week and I think what we are doing in the schools is so important because there are over 50 hate groups in North Carolina and a great many in eastern Tennessee waiting to catch our disaffected youth.”
ASU will hold its MLK Challenge for the ninth year on Monday, January 15. This event involves approximately 200 students participating in community service projects.
Another part of the annual observance is the unity festival that organizers now schedule for the spring in conjunction with a similar event at the university. The Unity Festival and Diversity Celebration will be held Saturday, April 14, from 12:00 until 4:00 p.m. and Tuesday, April 17, from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. at ASU. The People of the Planet Soccer Tournament will be held Sunday, April 15, from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
I Have A Dream Week is funded by the Watauga Arts Council and Grassroots Funds of the North Carolina Arts Council, as well as by donations from individuals and organizations who believe in the dream. For more information call 828-264-5620.
I Have A Dream Week Schedule 2007
Saturday, January 13 and 20: I Have A Dream Special, a one-hour children’s radio tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the Young World Radio Show, from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. on WATA-AM 1450 and WXIT-AM 1200, 828-264-6016
Saturday, January 13 through Saturday, January 20: Celebrate Thailand and Laos, authentic Thai cuisine enjoyed at lunch each day along with special Thai music and art programs at Cha Da Thai restaurant in the Emporium on Howard Street in Boone, 828-268-0434
Sunday, January 14: The Dream Lives On, a program commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and vision, 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., 381 East King Street, Boone, 828-264-4456
Monday, January 15: MLK Challenge, ninth annual day of challenging community service projects, 8:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., preregister with the ASU ACT Office, 828-262-2045
Monday, January 15: Tenth Annual Unity Service, featuring Shelly Wilson, pastor of High Country United Church of Christ plus a rich music program, desserts follow, 7:00 p.m., Mabel Methodist Church on Old Highway 421, 828-297-3568
Tuesday, January 16: ASU’s Twenty-Third Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration—Civil Rights: Then and Now, featuring noted civil rights activist Reverend Joseph E. Lowery, 7:00 p.m. at Farthing Auditorium, 828-262-6252.
Tuesday and Thursday, January 16 and 18: Making Chinese Lanterns, a craft for children and parents at The Children’s Playhouse in Boone, call for details and cost, Tuesday from 10:30 until 11:30 a.m. and Thursday from 3:30 until 4:30 p.m., 828-263-0011
Tuesday through Friday, January 16 until 19: Unity Week in Watauga County Public Schools, each school is presenting a variety of programs and projects that explore diversity and build unity, 828-264-7765
Tuesday through Saturday, January 16 through 20: Haiku Poetry, art project and stories from Japan for young children, daily, Watauga County Public Library at 10:00 a.m., 828-264-8784
Wednesday, January 17: Appreciating Differences with Others, interactive workshop for middle-schoolers with Western Youth Network (WYN) and ASU’s Equity Office, 4:00 until 5:00 p.m. in the old Cove Creek Gymnasium, 828-264-5174
Friday, January 19: Taste the Dream, a small gathering to prepare and enjoy a meal inspired by four diverse cultures, cost is $10, reservations by January 10, Grace Lutheran Church, 115 East King Street in Boone, 828-260-2437
Saturday, January 20: This Is Who We Are—Connections through Poetry, poet Ray McNiece performs and leads a poetry slam, bring your poetry to share, 3:00 until 5:00 p.m. at the Watauga County Public Library, 828-260-2437
Saturday, January 20: Peace Prayers, prayers that encompass many faiths and cultures, all ages invited, light refreshments follow, bring a prayer to share, 7:00 p.m., the Baha’i community, 120 Hunting Road in Boone, 828-264-2297
Sunday, January 21: A Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr., a musical celebration at the Mennonite Brethren Church beginning at 11:00 a.m., Church Street, Boone
Sunday, January 21: Dances of Universal Peace, dedicated to the Dream, 5:00 p.m., St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Boone, suggested donation $5, 828-264-1384