This year, Wichitans will have plenty of opportunities to celebrate the life of civil rights leader, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We have of list of events with one beginning on Thursday and others sprinkled throughout the federal holiday weekend.
The Boys & Girls Club of South Central Kansas - Thursday, January 15, 6pm
Celebrate the birthday of Dr. King with a film that highlights one of the defining events in the civil rights movement. The Boys & Girls Club of South Central Kansas and Storytime Village, Inc. will host a special screening of Selma at the East Warren Theatres. It begins at 6 pm with a "Legends" mix and mingle, followed by a screening of the film at 7 pm. All proceeds will benefit the underserved children in the Wichita community. Tickets cost $25-per-person. Participants can get a $5 dollar discount if they are part of a group of eight or more. You can purchase them at the Boys & Girls Club located at 2400 N. Opportunity Dr.
Christian Faith Centre - Saturday, January 17, 8am
Start off a day full of celebrations with a pancake breakfast at the Christian Faith Centre, located at 1130 S. Broadway.
Afterwords, there will be a community-wide parade that will begin in the parking lot of the Christian Faith Centre, wind through historic downtown Wichita and end at the Chester I. Lewis Reflection Square.
The Kansas African American Museum - Saturday, January 17
After the breakfast and parade, participate in one of the largest MLK celebrations in the region. Visitors can take part in a community project starting at 11am at The Kansas African American Museum(TKAAM) located at 601 N. Water. As part of this year's project, TKAAM will be collecting books to send to the Village of Hope orphanage in Ghana. Participants are encouraged to write a personalized note with each book they donate.
Beginning at 7pm, the museum will hold a celebration at Chapel Hill UMC located at 1550 N. Chapel Hill St. The theme for this year is “The Table of Brotherhood: Are You at the Table?” It will recognize King’s historic narration of the struggle toward equality in America and his dream for unification.
A $3 button is required to take part in each event.
Bethel College will be hosting two MLK events again this year. Both events will be in the Krehbiel Auditorium located in the Fine Arts Center.
The first event is a screening of the documentary Freedom Riders. The film takes a look at the mob attacks in the South on black and white volunteers who, in the summer of 1961, sought to integrate interstate transportation. Following the screening, there will be an open discussion with retired Friends University history professor, Dr. Galyn Vesey.
For Bethel College's main MLK event, visitors can hear a keynote address from the executive director of Christian Peacemaker Teams, Sarah Thompson. Hailing from Chicago, Thompson is described as a A young leader in peacemaking and anti-oppression. Her address is titled "Moving Towards Conflict."
Greater Wichita Ministerial League – Monday, January 19, 12pm
This celebration, hosted by the Greater Wichita Ministerial League, will take place at the WSU MetroPlex located at 5015 East 29th St N. The theme of this year's event is "In Pursuit of the Dream." The guest speaker will be Dr. Lance D. Watson, a senior pastor at the St. Paul Baptist Church in Richmond, VA.
