The Do512 Family Featured Babymakers over at LiveMom let us borrow this great post covering all of the great events happening this week and next in observation of the late and great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

_________________________________________________

Although it seems as though the kids just went back to school, we will be taking a day off on Monday to commemorate the life and good works of Martin Luther King, Jr. Need some help deciding what to do, starting today and through the holiday weekend? Not to worry — we have you covered!

 

EVENTS

• MLK Oratory Competition – The MLK Oratory Competition will take place at the George Washington Carver Museum’s Boyd Vance Theatre on Tuesday, Jan.14, 2014 from 6 – 8 pm. Oratory Finalists will compete in a five-minute speech based on the theme, “As a student of Dr. King’s life, what message of hope do you think he would have for the world today?” These inspiring young speakers will compete by delivering personally written speeches commemorating Dr. King’s legacy of peace and unity.

 

 

• MLK Celebration – Wednesday, Jan.15, celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his birthday at the George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center by watching documentaries throughout the day from 11 am – 6 pm. The event is free and open to the public.
• 27th Annual Commemorative Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Walk & Celebration – Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day from 1 – 3:15 pm Saturday, Jan. 18. The commemorative walk will begin at CD Fulkes Middle School, 300 West Anderson Ave. Participants should be at the school between 1 and 1:30 pm. The march will begin at 1:30 pm and end at the Allen R. Baca Center at approximately 2 pm. A program with speakers and light refreshments will follow. Participants are encouraged to bring canned goods that will be donated to the Round Rock Area Serving Center.

 

 

• MLK March, Community Festival and Food Drive – The Annual Community March celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy while uplifting diversity and multi-culturalism in our city. The March kicks off on Monday, Jan. 20 at 9 am with a short program at the MLK Statue on the University of Texas campus. Everyone will then march to the south steps of the State Capitol for a short program and marchers will continue on to the historic Huston-Tillotson University, where vendors, artists and activities will be until 3 pm to close out the day. Marchers are encouraged to bring food for the Capital Area Food Bank, click here for info on acceptable items and places where food will be collected. Click here for info on parking (info is on the right side of the webpage).

 

 

Peace Through Pie Events

Peace Through Pie is an organization that believes hosting a pie social with a “Peace Pie” at the center of the table is the ideal way to foster tradition on the Martin Luther King Holiday and the perfect way to kick off the year-round pie social season. The act of service is at the heart of a Peace Through Pie Social. There’s the gathering together at the table to literally serve each other delicious pieces of pie. But, there is also the service to one another that comes when we pass down history and tradition — all with the primary purpose of promoting peace. Although you can organize your own event and become a Pie-o-neer, here are a few that are open to the public:

• Sweet Home Peace Through Pie Social – Saturday, Jan. 18 from 2 – 4:30 pm, free, at Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church. Musical Guests: Bells of Joy, bring everyone and come out to celebrate with your favorite pie to share.
• Peace Through Pie at Faith4Life Church – Saturday, Jan.18 from 5 – 7 pm, free. Toni Tipton-Martin joins Pastor Evan and Minister Priscilla Black in celebration of community, diversity and Dr. King’s vision of Beloved Community with music, a pie baking contest, pie raffle, pie-making demonstration, and home-made sweet and savory pies.
• St. James’ Episcopal Pie Social and Auction – Sunday, Jan.19 from noon – 1:30 pm, free. Celebrate MLK Jr. Day at the 10:15 am service, then stay to visit over pie afterwards! Gather in recognition of Dr. King’s dream of a beloved community to enjoy pies (both pizza and sweet pies), and to auction off selected pies to support music and youth ministries at St. James’.

__________________________________________

In addition to all of these great events, there are also plenty of Volunteer Opportunities that our friends at LiveMom posted here. Check ’em out and help out!

__________________________________________

— Nicole Basham

A native Austinite and soccer-playing mom, Nicole uses her 7-year-old son as an excuse to rediscover her hometown through his eyes. In Thoreau’s words, her mission is to “suck out all the marrow of life”, or in her son’s words, to cultivate in him a love of “advenchers”.