On Saturday, January 18, 2025 there was a celebration in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. at Worcester State University. This happened to be the thirty-first celebration.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights activist and leader of the Civil Rights movement that took place from the 1950s to 1960s. He believed in peaceful protest and thought fighting/weapons would not make change. MLK Jr. was a strong African American man who wanted equal rights for people of all skin colors. Unfortunately, he was assassinated at a young age but his work and bravery do not go unnoticed. Every third Monday of January we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
As many people agree, MLK Jr. was a good person who deserves to be recognized. And of course, Worcester State University was a part of this recognition. Not only was there an excellent gathering, but attendees were welcomed to breakfast and drinks. Breakfast included eggs, bacon, french toast, fruit, potatoes, orange juice, and water. Worcester State had great facilities that were clean, well organized, and high quality.
To continue, there was a set program to which speeches were being made, performances were happening, and the youth in our community were being recognized. There was also a booklet where all this information was held. As well as the program, inside the booklet held the poetry contest winners for the MLK Jr. Poetry Contest.
The poetry contest was for grades seven through twelve. The prompt was “Leading to Serve: Giving of Ourselves to Support Others.” The writers were asked, “how can we improve the lives of the people of our community and how do you want to serve those around you.” All the poetry winners were phenomenal and had wonderful stories to tell. Whether stepping into another’s shoes or sharing personal experiences, all the poems were heartfelt.
There were many extraordinary performances on the stage. The South High School JROTC Color Guard gave a presentation followed by the national anthem sung by one of our own, Nayeli Roman. She had a remarkable voice and blew the performance away. A welcoming speech was made by the President of Worcester State University, Barry Maloney as well.
As far as performances go, two included shows from the Refugees & Immigrants Cultural Empowerment Massachusetts (RICEMA) and Ritmos. To what could be assumed as a fan favorite, RICEMA brought shocked faces and laughter. Ritmos provided an inspiring and insightful dance performance on what it is like to be a woman in the twenty-first century. A cultural performance inspired by Billie Ellish’s What Was I Made For? and Barbie was a true tear jerker.
What a great day to celebrate MLK Jr. and rein in the next leaders in our community. Each performance was outstanding but Vanessa Ford was absolutely mesmerizing. She was everything and more on that stage. One attendee stated, “The singer, Vanessa Ford, is not only a fabulous inspirational singer, but also an inspiring preacher. She blessed us with her presence and also graced us with a prayer for everybody in attendance at the ceremony, our families, our community.”
Like Martin Luther King Jr., all people should be able to stand up for what they think is right and seek justice for their cause. By having a celebration in his name and bringing people together for an uplifting event, people are able to see how the youth are the leaders of this next generation. We know what is best for us and by using our voices to advocate for others and our community, positive actions can and will be made. Remember to always spread peace just like MLK Jr.. Hate cannot overcome love, love can rule out hate any day.