Martin Luther King Annual Commemoration and Remembrance Monday, Jan. 19

Please join us as we publicly remember and celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Monday, Jan. 19, 11 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 838 Mass. Ave., Central Square, Cambridge.

Cambridge’s Annual MLK Day Commemoration and Remembrance
Monday, January 19, 2015 • 11 a.m.
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Central Sq., Cambridge

In this time of renewed focus on the challenges of racism and violence – and on action for peace and justice – please join us as we remember and celebrate the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:

11 a.m. -12:45 p.m. Celebration of Dr. King’s Life and Work for Peace, Justice, and Transformation,
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church • 838 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge

12:45 - 1:45 p.m.  Lunch and Gathering at the Church, 
In the undercroft (basement) at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church • 838 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge

In 1967, Martin Luther King described what he saw as the most serious challenge for our society. In his words, "We must rapidly begin the shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered." Almost 50 years later, the United States still faces these three existential challenges to our values as a nation.

The City of Cambridge will honor and remember Dr. King and his legacy as we gather at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church to hear members of the Cambridge community share readings of Dr. King’s words calling for peace, justice and transformation, as well as music from Veronique Epiter. We will also feature remarks from Keith Harvey, Executive Director of the New England Regional Office of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) since 1992. Keith’s father, James Harvey, worked with the NAACP and the AFSC, and over the course of Keith’s childhood, his family would be asked to integrate four schools. Keith and his sister were the only Black children in their schools, and their family was the only Black family in their neighborhoods. His family’s job was to become neighbors and to make friends. Keith is also the chair of the board of the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, and serves on the board of the Cambridge Friends School. He received a B.A. in urban and regional planning from Miami University of Ohio, where he also was a member of the football team.

In addition to the Peace Commission’s Commemoration and Remembrance at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, once again Many Helping Hands will sponsor volunteer activities on Day of Service Monday, Jan. 19, from 2-5 p.m., at Cambridge City Hall, St. Peter’s, the YWCA, the Senior Center and other sites. After January 1, for more information about what is happening that day, visit www.cambridgema.gov/peace.

For directions to St. Peter's Episcopal Church, located at 838 Massachusetts Ave. at the corner of Sellers St. in Central Square, please, visit http://www.saintpeterscambridge.org/