For the 2021 film event, see the Videos page
2020 Ashland MLK Celebration
|
Here is our entire program, starting with the pre-show performance by the Bishop Mayfield band, and a history of Freedom Summer, before the main program, featuring Keynote Speaker Nataki Garrett, OSF Artistic Director.
See more of Dr. King and our shared history right here. |
|
It's not too late to order Spirit of Freedom Summer T-shirts and merch online and support our next MLK event.
|
The 32nd annual Ashland Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration was held on Monday, January 20th at the Historic Ashland Armory. For overflow attendees, a simulcast live stream was presented at the Varsity Theatre.
Our celebration also featured Brent Florendo, Walker Elementary School students, SOU BSU, the Ashland High School Jazz Band, Children for Change, Ashland Danceworks, The Bishop Mayfield Band, and our returning master of ceremonies, D.L. Richardson. The program includes a history of Freedom Summer, In Memoriam, and "We Stand Together," an appreciation of the movement from 1948–68 to here and now.
The celebration is FREE and open to the public. Non-Perishable Food Donations for ACCESS are encouraged.
After the celebration, we marched to the Ashland Plaza for the playing of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
Special thanks to our sponsors and partners, and the volunteers who work diligently to bring this celebration to our community.
Our celebration also featured Brent Florendo, Walker Elementary School students, SOU BSU, the Ashland High School Jazz Band, Children for Change, Ashland Danceworks, The Bishop Mayfield Band, and our returning master of ceremonies, D.L. Richardson. The program includes a history of Freedom Summer, In Memoriam, and "We Stand Together," an appreciation of the movement from 1948–68 to here and now.
The celebration is FREE and open to the public. Non-Perishable Food Donations for ACCESS are encouraged.
After the celebration, we marched to the Ashland Plaza for the playing of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
Special thanks to our sponsors and partners, and the volunteers who work diligently to bring this celebration to our community.
“There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he [or they] must take it because his [or their] conscience tells him [or them] it is right...” |
Connect with Ashland Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Ashland MLK Celebration Archive
|
|
2019
THEME: From Then to Now… Empowering the Dream QUOTE: “We have inherited a large house … a family unduly separated in ideas, culture and interest, who because we can never again live apart, must learn somehow to live with each other in peace.” |
|
|
2018
THEME: The fierce urgency of now: tomorrow is today. QUOTE: “We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late...There is an invisible book of life that faithfully records our vigilance or our neglect.” |
|
|
2017
THEME: Power. Justice. Love for All Inspirational Quote: "Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love. " |
|
|
2016
THEME: “Let Us Be Dissatisfied and Transform Dark Yesterday’s Into Bright Tomorrow’s.” Inspirational Quote: "We have a task and let us go out with a "divine dissatisfaction." Let us be dissatisfied until America will no longer have a high blood pressure of creeds and an anemia of deeds. Let us be dissatisfied until the tragic walls that separate the outer city of wealth and comfort and the inner city of poverty and despair shall be crushed by the battering rams of the forces of justice... " |
|
|
2015
THEME: “Share the Dream, Live the Reality”. Inspirational Quote: “I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant.” |
|
Ashland MLK T-Shirt Design History
|
Ashland MLK Celebration Reports
|
