Local organizations to celebrate MLK Day with the community

Brianna Maestas, Amarillo Globe-News
·6 min read

In honor of the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the values he upheld throughout the nation to strive for a world of equality in diversity, many local organizations work to honor this day, designated as a National Day of Service. Beginning as soon as Friday, Jan. 13 through the official holiday on Monday, Jan. 16, local organizations and non-profits are coming together to host a parade and celebration, historical day camps, dream drive book drive and more.

MLK parade and celebration

Amarillo organizations have partnered together for the annual MLK parade and celebration, to be held Monday, Jan. 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The events will kick off with the parade, traveling from Hughes Street to Bones Hook Park, beginning at 11 a.m. After the parade around 12:30 p.m., the Master of Ceremonies, Pastor Greg Woods of Trinity Fellowship, will present the Hanging of the Wreath Ceremony performed by Alpha Phi Alpha Inc. fraternity, accompanied by Amarillo Independent School District high school choirs.

"It is no longer a march; it is a parade and a celebration. A march symbolizes a protest in the minds of many, so people are enthused now that they have purpose to celebrate and not appear as if they are in protest. That is how this has grown from where it began to what it has become," said Keith Grays, Co-Chair for the MLK Parade and Celebration.

Throughout the Amarillo celebration, attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy live music provided by guest vocalist Ezell Clark, a member of the Dallas Street Choir Ministries that recently returned from their performance at Carnegie Hall, as well as several other local artists, violinists and AISD high school bands, dance and cheer teams.

The Amarillo ISD Choir sings the national anthem for the activities after a previous year's MLK parade that ended at Bones Hooks Park.
The Amarillo ISD Choir sings the national anthem for the activities after a previous year's MLK parade that ended at Bones Hooks Park.
Greg Woods, associate pastor at Trinity Fellowship Church, was one of the guest speakers at the activities after a previous year's MLK parade ended at Bones Hooks Park.
Greg Woods, associate pastor at Trinity Fellowship Church, was one of the guest speakers at the activities after a previous year's MLK parade ended at Bones Hooks Park.

The City of Amarillo Health Department will be in attendance, with more than 25 healthcare providers administering immunizations and blood pressure checking services. Current Texas Tech University School of Medicine students will help provide assistance in partnership with the healthcare providers.

Chick-Fil-A on Georgia will provide more than 500 meals to those in attendance, with beverages provided and served by Plains Dairy and Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains will have a table selling their crowd favorite cookies as a kick-off to their season.

Children will have the opportunity to enjoy games and crafts. Those in attendance will also have the chance to register for an XBox gaming console giveaway drawing.

"This is for Amarillo and beyond. It's a citywide celebration, not just a community event, in a community that people otherwise may not know the value of. The park is named after an African American, Bones Hook; the stage is named after an African American woman, Jewelle Allen, so as you enter the park, the history of the area begins to resonate with those in attendance," Grays added.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Keith Grays at (806) 672-1547.

DHDC MLK Day Camp

The Don Harrington Discovery Center is offering its Camp Discovery MLK Day Camp in honor of the national holiday.

During the event, campers will learn on their level with a science-based curriculum and qualified teachers all about teamwork and what it means to work together. Young learners will come to the Discovery Center day camps offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for days filled with teamwork, including large demonstrations, cool experiments, and explorer-approved creations to take home.

The event will be offered Monday, Jan. 16. Pre-K camp is available from 9 a.m. to noon, with kindergarten through fourth grade camp offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Access to both pre-care and after-care is $10.

Classes are separated into age-appropriate pairings, which allow students the best environment for learning, DHDC says. To learn more information or register, visit them online at https://discoverycenteramarillo.org/camp-discovery-mlk-day-camp/ .

Rashar Steward and Caddyn Toombs hold the banner as RJ Soleyjacks announces the theme for the activities at the 2022 MLK celebration.
Rashar Steward and Caddyn Toombs hold the banner as RJ Soleyjacks announces the theme for the activities at the 2022 MLK celebration.
Members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, of which Martin Luther King Jr. was a member, gather at the activities after the MLK parade ended at Bones Hooks Park as part of last year's event. This year's parade and celebration take place on Monday, MLK Day.
Members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, of which Martin Luther King Jr. was a member, gather at the activities after the MLK parade ended at Bones Hooks Park as part of last year's event. This year's parade and celebration take place on Monday, MLK Day.

Storybridge MLK book drive

Storybridge has partnered with United Supermarkets for their Dream & Donate Book Drive honoring MLK Day. On Monday from noon to 4 p.m., Storybridge will be accepting book donations in the parking lot of the United located at 45th and Bell.

Storybridge Executive Director Chandra Perkins said in a news release: “When the love and care we have for our local community translates into action and service, we are honoring the legacy of Dr. King in the best way possible. ... We are excited to bring families a fun and easy way to do that every year on this day. This year, our goal is to collect 8,000 children’s books at Dream & Donate. That would be enough for over 1000 kids to choose their own mini home library at one of our Free Book Fairs. It’s a practical and easy way for anyone in our community to effect positive change in equitable access to education. And it’s a lot of fun, too!”

Pete the Cat, seen in this file photo, will be on hand Monday for Storybridge's Dream & Donate Book Drive honoring MLK Day in the parking lot of the United Supermarket located at 45th and Bell.
Pete the Cat, seen in this file photo, will be on hand Monday for Storybridge's Dream & Donate Book Drive honoring MLK Day in the parking lot of the United Supermarket located at 45th and Bell.

The event will be outdoors, located on the northwest corner of the United parking lot on 45th and Bell in Southwest Amarillo. United Supermarkets will be providing hot dogs, chips, and a cookie to anyone who brings books. Beloved children’s book character Pete the Cat will also be at the event to say hello to the children donating books. Drive-up donations will be accepted.

All the books given at Dream & Donate will be redistributed to children in Amarillo who may not own their own books at home, through Storybridge's Free Book Fairs at local schools. The mission of Storybridge is to ensure that every child in the Amarillo area owns at least 20 great books from birth through elementary school, enters kindergarten ready to learn to read, and unlocks all the benefits of literacy.

Education

Amarillo College and West Texas A&M University campuses will be closed in observance of the holiday. WTAMU stated in a news release: "Though WT officially will be closed Jan. 16 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, current and retired WT staff and faculty will be taking part in a random act of kindness for students in need."

Although the Amarillo Independent School District will not be hosting any of their own MLK Day events, many of their students will be participating in local events throughout the city, including the MLK Day Parade and Celebration.

Additional Deals

For those who have other plans for the national day of service, some local deals during the holiday Monday include the Drunken Oyster hosting an MLK Jr. brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

D-Bat Amarillo is offering a special MLKDay hitting camp Monday from 10 a.m. to noon for ages 6 through 12. Admission is $35 per child, and membership discounts do apply. For more information or to register, visit them online at https://www.dbatamarillo.com/ .

Cinergy Amarillo is offering $10 game cards when you sign up for Cinergy Elite; this offer is available now to be redeemed Monday, Jan. 16. Join for free at https://www.cinergy.com/elite-rewards .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Local organizations invite the community to MLK day events