2023 events in York to honor civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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Several organizations will honor civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this weekend with services and volunteer events.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday, is on Monday.
Here is what is planned:
Crispus Attucks York to host Martin Luther King Day of Service
This year will mark the 41st annual Martin Luther King Day of Service for Crispus Attucks York.
The program will be held at 8 a.m. Monday in the gymnasium at 605 S. Duke St. in York, according to a news release.
A "Living the Dream" award in memory of the Rev. Michael D. Jefferson will be presented during the program. The news release provided the name of the receipients and why they are being honored:
Kayla Mullins, a local artist who has been involved with Crispus Attucks since childhood and donates her time and artistic skills to the Early Learning Center and the Juneteenth event. She also is a certified nursing assistant graduate from the Employment and Training Center.
Jenifer Hernandez-Vargas, who overcame challenges stemming from childhood immigration from Mexico to become a recent graduate from York College of Pennsylvania. She plans to become an immigration lawyer.
The School District of the City of York Wellness Wednesday program, which provides students and their families with community resources and a weekly time to elevate their voices in the school setting. It is headed by Dr. George Fitch.
More:Mike Jefferson helped him quit a life of crime. Now he's mentoring other ex-convicts.
More:From Mexico to speaker at York College graduation: Her inspiring story of perseverance
Inaugural 'I Have a Dream Conference' in York
This year marks the first time the Advantage Program will host its "I Have a Dream Conference." Tavon Parker is the CEO.
The conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday at the YMCA Tech Rev Center, 301 W. Market St. It is open to children and adults.
The goal of the conference is "to foster pro social relationships in our communities and provide support for youth and adults, all while engaging in a community environment to strengthen the county we call York!"
It will include an MLK presentation, creating goals, and awards and prizes.
Some of the individuals and organizations invited to participate include Bro2Go, Temple Guard, YWCA, QOP; Beast Mode Initiative, Pedal4Peace, Stick & Move Boxing, The Program, It's About Change; and both boy's and girl's York High basketball.
More:From drug dealer to motivational speaker: See how Tavon Parker turned his life around
Interfaith leaders to honor King through non-violence
Two churches − Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York and Heidelberg United Church of Christ York − will be hosting a vigil from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at Cherry Lane in York. If the weather is inclement, it will be moved to Heidelberg UCC at 47 W. Philadelphia St., according to a Facebook post.
The vigil is intended to "hold the truth of Dr. King's message of healing faith, to acknowledge that violence is a spiritual as well as a physical harm, and to honor the lives of all those lost to gun violence," the Facebook post states.
Speakers include the Rev. Jen Raffensperger, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York; the Rev. Carla Christopher, Heidelberg United Church of Christ; the Rev. D. Marie Tribble, Restoration Community Church; Joslin L. Kearse, diversity manager at the York Jewish Community Center, the Rev. Clare Twomey, racial and social justice coordinator with the York YWCA and Rabiya Khan of the York City Human Relations Commission.
Participants will be able to write messages in cards to local families who have been harmed by gun violence, the post states.
Jazz Vespers Concert 2023
First Presbyterian Church of York will be hosting its annual Jazz Vespers concert to honor the enduring legacy of King, according to a Facebook post.
The concerts will be at 6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. on Saturday.
They are free and open to the public. Donations are accepted.
The church is located at 225 E. Market St. in York.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2023: Events planned in York
