MLK Jr. Birthday Celebration

The community is invited to a celebration of what would have been his 95th birthday on Sunday, January 14 at 2 p.m. in the Sonora High School auditorium, 430 N. Washington St., Sonora. All are welcome to this free event presented by the Motherlode Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee and held in this community for the 27th year.

The theme of this year’s program is “Unity in Diversity: Embracing Equality and Empowering Change.” Speakers Morgan Rain of the LGBTQ+ Rural Resource Center and Mark Dyken of Resiliency Village, for people facing homelessness, will discuss their services. Dr. Stephanie Beaver-Guzman (Hupa/Yurok), Counselor at Columbia College, will talk about our local tribal community efforts, including the Chicken Ranch Rancheria Me-Wuk Indians and the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians, as well as the Southern Sierra Miwok Nation in Mariposa County. Singer and Bret Harte High student, Lily O’Geen, will perform, as well as Healing Drum, a women’s drumming group through Tuolumne Me-Wuk Tribal Social Services.

Two deserving community members will each receive the Laurie Bailie Social Justice Award this year: social justice activist Vonna Breeze-Martin, and writer Sylvia Roberts whose book, Mining for Freedom: Black History Meets the California Gold Rush, focuses on Black miners in the Mother Lode. Both women are former members of the Motherlode Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee.

The MLK Committee has presented annual programs, wholly supported by local donations, since 1996 in support of Dr. King’s stand on poverty, racism and social justice.

A reception with refreshments will follow in the school cafeteria. For more information, see Facebook, Motherlode Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee.