Ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lake Highlands Presbyterian Church is planning a pair of events to celebrate the revered civil rights leader’s legacy.
MLK Day, commemorated annually on the third Monday in January, falls on Jan. 20 this year. The day was first officially designated as a federal holiday in 1983, although many states — including Texas — took years to officially recognize it, according to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. MLK Day is also the only federal holiday that doubles as a national day of service.
LHPC will kick off the festivities on Saturday with a “peacemaker playdate” for families at noon. There will be books, activities and songs at the LHPC outdoor diversity library. Families can also make cards for Meals on Wheels clients for Monday’s distribution, for which LHPC is also looking for volunteers.
On Sunday, there will be a free screening of the documentary “I am MLK Jr.”, which won two Leo Awards in 2019. Childcare is available during the screening. Following the screening, there will be a community potluck and conversation. A local NAACP representative will also be present and provide information on ways to get involved around North Texas.
Both events are open to the public.
