Stratham honors legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with weeklong celebration

Special to Seacoastonline
·4 min read

STRATHAM — The town will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a week of events honoring his legacy.

This is the second year that a coalition of local organizations has organized the festivities. This year’s program includes an expanded group of partners with the addition of Stratham Memorial School, the Stratham Volunteer Fire Department Association and the Stratham Police Department.

The federal holiday and state observance of King’s birthday is an opportunity to remember his contributions, including his dedication to the fundamentals of vibrant community connections.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. acknowledges the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial for his "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington, D.C. on Aug. 28, 1963.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. acknowledges the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial for his "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington, D.C. on Aug. 28, 1963.

The seven-day schedule of events starts before the holiday on Jan. 11 with an Arts and Music Kickoff by the Stratham Memorial School Community. Other events include film screenings, book club community discussions for adults and children, and a community breakfast offered by the Stratham Volunteer Fire Department Association at the Stratham Community Church.

Event sponsors are the Stratham Historical Society, Wiggin Memorial Library, Stratham Memorial School, Stratham Community Church Mission & Justice Committee, Racial Unity Team, Stratham Scout Troop 185, the Stratham Volunteer Fire Department Association, and the Stratham Police Department.

Stratham’s weeklong tribute to MLK: A guide to all the events

Thursday, Jan. 11

The Stratham Memorial School will host the kickoff event for the MLK Celebration on Thursday, Jan. 11. The community is invited from 5:30 to 7 p.m. to join for music, students' Civil Rights inquiries, art, and empowering words from Stratham residents.

The presentation kicks off at 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria, where attendees will be greeted by Luke Whiting, a senior at Exeter High School, followed by a choral performance of fourth- and fifth-graders led by Kate Green. You will also hear the story of twin sisters Anna Kim Ae Kyung DiLorenzo and Emily Kim Ae Sun Hunter and their passionate work for community and inclusivity.

Students' inquiries into the Civil Rights Movement, collaborations with classroom teachers and the related arts team, will be displayed at the school.

Friday, Jan. 12

The Wiggin Memorial Library will host a film screening of "Good Trouble” at 1 p.m. The film biography tells the story of former Rep. John Lewis and his struggle for civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health care reform, and immigration.

Rep. John Lewis is presented with the 2010 Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama during an East Room event at the White House February 15, 2011, in Washington, DC.
Rep. John Lewis is presented with the 2010 Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama during an East Room event at the White House February 15, 2011, in Washington, DC.

Saturday, Jan. 13

The Stratham Volunteer Fire Department Association will host a breakfast and MLK performance at the Stratham Community Church, 6 Emery Lane. The breakfast is at 8:30 a.m., followed by a presentation of gospel music, theater, and spoken word recognizing the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Reverend Robert Thompson, president of the Seacoast Chapter of the NAACP, and Pastor Westley Conn, of the Stratham Community Church, will welcome attendees.

Breakfast will end 20 minutes before the performance at 10 a.m. The performance is produced by Sandi Clark Kaddy, founder of the “Set The House on Fire,” a gospel concert celebrating the life and dreams of Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Donations at the breakfast will be accepted for the scholarship fund of the Seacoast Chapter of the NAACP in honor of Rogers Johnson, a Stratham resident who was dedicated to civil discourse and public service.

Tuesday, Jan. 16

The Wiggin Memorial Library will host a community discussion on the book “His Truth is Marching on: John Lewis and the Power of Hope" by Jon Meacham at 6.30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 17

Wiggin Memorial Library will host a read-aloud of the book "Because of You, John Lewis" by Andrea Davis Pinkney at 4 p.m., followed by a craft.

Wiggin Memorial Library will host a read-aloud of the book "Because of You, John Lewis" by Andrea Davis Pinkney on Wednesday, Jan. 17.
Wiggin Memorial Library will host a read-aloud of the book "Because of You, John Lewis" by Andrea Davis Pinkney on Wednesday, Jan. 17.

The book tells the story of a young boy who dreamed of meeting John Lewis, who marched alongside MLK and was a champion of civil rights. King visited Gee's Bend, Alabama, and inspired and mobilized the townspeople to register to vote at the town hall across the river. Gee's Bend was already an isolated and poor hamlet but became more so when the white local government thwarted their efforts by cutting off ferry service to the town. The women of Gee's Bend responded by creating the Freedom Quilting Bee, a worker's cooperative that provided economic opportunity and political empowerment. Today, the quilts of Gee's Bend are in the collections of over 30 art museums.

The craft will explore the beautiful quilting tradition through cut paper collage.

Thursday, Jan. 18

The Wiggin Memorial Library will host a special book club meeting for adults and teens of “March: Book One” by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin at 5:30 p.m.

Former Congressman John Lewis was an American icon and one of the key figures of the civil rights movement. "March" is the first book in the graphic novel trilogy story of his life, offering a visual first-hand account of his lifelong struggle for civil and human rights and the broader civil rights movement inspired by Martin Luther King.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Stratham honors legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with weeklong events