By Steven Scarpa
For three decades, the Yale Peabody Museum has celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy through collaborative music, activities, and poetry. This year, the museum is honoring King’s commitment to community with its “MLK Day of Service and Celebration.”
The event is taking place on Monday, January 19 from noon to 4 pm. Admission is free.
Over a dozen community organizations will be at the Peabody to share their offerings and provide a way for individuals to more deeply connect to the New Haven community.
“We aspire to hold an event that is ‘rooted in service and rising in community.’ What we’ve learned is that by coming together and leaning on one another, we can create a more just community,” said Andrea Motto, Assistant Director of Public Education & Outreach.
To that end, the Peabody will pay tribute to King’s work by hosting experiences focused on civil rights and food, educational, racial, and environmental justice from organizations in New Haven who are doing this important work. Student performers from the New Haven Public School will be sharing music and dance throughout the Peabody’s galleries all throughout the day. In addition, Peabody educators will be on hand in our galleries to offer fun interactive activities for kids, lending their insights into millions of years of natural history.
“This is one of the most exciting days of the year at the Peabody. Recognizing the importance of Dr. King’s legacy has long been something the Peabody has sought to do and this new format deepens that work,” said interim director Erika Edwards.
The Peabody’s community partners include Bethel AME Church, Cityseed, Citywide Youth Coalition, Connecticut Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Center for British Art, Greater New Haven African American Historical Society, Mothers and Others for Justice, National Council of Negro Women, New Haven Museum, New Haven Pride Center, New Haven Voter Registrar, NXTHVN, Possible Futures, Artist Silencio, Students for Educational Justice, and United Way Parent Leadership Institute.
“We are excited to host our friends. It’s one way the Peabody can give back – to use our platform to share the good work done by organizations across the city,” Motto said.
In addition, the Peabody will host the “Z Experience Poetry Slam” in Central Gallery from 5 to 7 pm. This long-running spoken word event attracts a large and supportive crowd every year. Admission to the slam is free and suggested for adults. “Spoken word poetry honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s remarkable skill as an orator, who himself used the form to fuel the civil rights movement,” said David Heiser, director of student programs.
Schedule of events
12 pm-4 pm, Social Justice & Service Resource Fair - Central Gallery
12:30 pm-4:30 pm, Drop-in Zine Making - Room 112.
12:30 pm-3:30 pm, Conversation Circles – Central Gallery.
12 pm-4 pm, Hands-on activities, crafts and NHPS Musical Performances throughout the Galleries
4-4:45 pm, Community Open Mic – David Friend Hall
5 pm to 7 pm, Z Experience Poetry Slam, Central Gallery