Monday, January 17, 2022 is a day of remembrance when we come together to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is also a day for looking forward, and re-dedicating and re-committing ourselves to the future we seek to build together: a future of racial, economic, and social justice. 

Although normally we would be coming together in person, this year we continue to weather the storm of this pandemic, so we are grateful for the many organizations around our state that are organizing and hosting virtual and online events to honor Dr. King and celebrate his legacy. In particular, we are excited for: 

The State of Civil Rights in Maine, a webinar co-sponsored by the Greater Bangor Area Branch NAACP and the University of Maine Alumni Association. This panel discussion will feature several leaders from our community, including:

• Ambassador Maulian Dana, Penobscot Nation Tribal Ambassador; President of the Wabanaki Alliance, a Maine Initiatives Grants for Change grantee; and co-chair of Maine’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations;
• Rachel Talbot Ross, Assistant House Democratic Leader, founder and leader of Maine Black Community Development, a Maine Initiatives Grants for Change grantee; and co-chair of Maine’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations; and
• David Patrick, co-founder and co-director of Racial Equity & Justice, a Maine Initiatives Grants for Change grantee; and a Maine Initiatives board member.

In addition, below are some other events taking place this weekend and links for learning more, registering, etc. 

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observance at Bates College, “The theme for Bates’ 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance is Decolonization and Liberation.” 
• 19th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, “Courtesy of First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Kennebunk, the 19th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will be offered on Zoom Monday, Jan. 17, at 10 a.m.”
• Committed to Listen: A public reading of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s sermon Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution, “hosted on Monday, January 17, 2022, at 12:15pm by The Maine Council of Churches and The BTS Center, and Atlantic Black Box.” 
• SUNDAY: Active Bystander Intervention Training for Racial Hate-Bias, “offered by Prevention. Action. Change. Gain awareness and tools to safely and effectively intervene when you witness incidents from microaggressions to threats of harm based on race and the intersecting identities of gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, and other factors. Free class: Open to all ages 14 and up.” Click here to register. 

Lastly, we want to honor and share the following note about the activism that Dr. King’s family is doing this weekend in Washington, DC, an important and inspiring call to action for all of us: 

“The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s family will honor the civil rights leader on Monday by demanding action on federal voting rights legislation.”

“King’s eldest son, Martin Luther King III; his wife, Arndrea Waters King; and their daughter, Yolanda Renee King, are leading a march on Martin Luther King Jr. Day across the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge in D.C.at 10 a.m. before joining the city’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Peace Walk urging the Senate and President Biden to enact federal voting rights legislation.” Source: Washington Post 

Thank you.

In solidarity,

The Maine Initiatives Team