Berkley And Royal Oak Partner to Honor Dr. King on MLK Day

Berkley And Royal Oak Partner to Honor Dr. King on MLK Day
Posted on 01/10/2022

The cities and school districts of Royal Oak and Berkley are proud to announce its joint MLK Day event for the entire community to remember, participate, and honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"We are pleased to once again, partner with Berkley Schools and our respective cities to honor the memory and promote the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through this annual event," said Superintendent Mary Beth Fitzpatrick. "Even though we have to modify our schedule a bit, we are looking forward to sharing messages from local and national legislators, hearing from Dr. Kimberley Martin, Royal Oak's DEI Coordinator, hosting a freedom walk, and collecting donations to give to four local charities. These are all ways that help support Dr. King's legacy."

"Given the days and times we live in, It is more important than ever to remember what Dr. King stood for and how so much of what he started remains to be done," said Royal Oak Schools DEI Coordinator Dr. Kim Martin. "This MLK day, the Royal Oak and Berkley communities are coming together to celebrate his legacy, and honor his work. By offering both virtual and in-person events, we hope to give our communities several ways to celebrate the day.

Virtual Keynote & Presentation

On Monday, January 17, 2022, the community is invited to honor Dr. King through learning and action. The commemoration, "A Day On, Not a Day Off," will begin with a virtual presentation hosted on the Berkley Schools and Royal Oak Schools Facebook pages at 9:30 AM. The virtual event will include a keynote speech by Dr. Kim Martin, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Coordinator for Royal Oak Schools, a performance by the Detroit Youth Choir, messages from both school superintendents, and more.

Freedom Walk

At 10:30 AM, the community is invited to gather at Royal Oak Middle School (ROMS), 709 N Washington Ave, Royal Oak, MI, for a freedom walk in the ROMS neighborhood as well as a donation drive. The first 200 guests will receive an event t-shirt. All ages and members of the community are invited to attend. The walk will kick off at 11 AM with a live greeting via Zoom from Governor Whitmer.

Testimonials

How has Dr. King's legacy affected you? Feel free to record a testimonial about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his legacy, or his speeches in our Testimonials Tent. These will be included in our program after the event.

Donation Drive

The event committee will also be collecting the following donations prior to the freedom walk to support the following groups:

  • Redford Brightmoor Initiative
  • Cass Community Social Services
  • Judson Center
  • Gleaners Community Food Bank

Items that we'd like to collect that day are listed below:

  • Toiletries & Cleaning Supplies (toilet paper, paper towel, soap, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, cleaning products, baby wipes, deodorant, feminine products)
  • DVDs (new or used)
  • Non-perishable foods (including canned meat and fish)
  • Diapers (newborn to size 6)
  • Baby wipes
  • Laundry detergent

Items will be collected through 12 PM on Jan. 17 and then delivered that day by volunteers.