MLK Day: Reston Community Center Site of Three Days of Celebration

Martin Luther King Day is Monday, Jan. 20, and the Reston Community Center has a full slate of events for the community to honor Dr. King. Special guests this year is Sweet Honey in the Rock, the award-winning women’s a cappella group. There will be several changes to catch the group during three days of events and service projects in Reston.

Here is the lineup and how you can get involved:

SATURDAY

Community service: RCC is partnering with Southgate Community Center, Reston Association, Cornerstones (formerly Reston Interfaith), and The Closet on projects including making bag lunches for the Embry Rucker Community Shelter;  sorting and organizing items from The Closet and several other projects at Southgate Community Center. There will also be several outdoor projects such as cleaning up the natural areas, pathways, and hardscape surrounding the area, weather permitting.

Volunteer hours conclude around noon, at which point volunteers will gather to share a lunch that will be provided. Sorting donations is for ages 13 and up. Children 12 and younger are welcome to participate in the other projects, but they must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older. To volunteer, please contact Ha Brock, Reston Association Community Outreach Specialist, at 703-435-7986 or [email protected].

Reston Community Orchestra Concert: 8th Annual Memorial Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 4 p.m. RCC Hunters Woods.

Maestro Dingwall Fleary will lead the Reston Community Orchestra in musical salute to Dr. King. An integral part of Reston’s weekend of celebration and remembrance, the concert will feature the works of African-American composers, as well as works inspired by the civil rights movement for which Dr. King gave his life. Joining the RCO is vocalist Beverly Cosham. Free.

SUNDAY

Art by Reston Schools Reception: 1:30 p.m., RCC Hunters Woods, Free
The creativity of Reston students will be celebrated at this reception. Students have created works based on Dr. King and the civil rights movement. The works will be on display though the end of January.

Commemorative March: 3 p.m., Lake Anne Plaza, all ages
Community members will assemble at Lake Anne Plaza. Rev. David North will teach a brief history of songs used in the civil rights movement and then lead everyone marching and singing songs to the Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation. A shuttle bus will run between the two sites from 2:30 p.m. until after the Voices of Inspiration program concludes.

Voices of Inspiration Concert: 4 p.m., Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, 1441 Wiehle Avenue, Reston. Free.
Voices of Inspiration is the 24th Anniversary program honoring Dr. King. This event is sponsored by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Christian Church and includes many Reston faith communities.

Sweet Honey in the Rock Concert: 8 p.m., RCC Hunters Woods; SOLD OUT
As part of the 2013/2014 Professional Touring Artist Series, the musical group  will perform in the CenterStage.

MONDAY

Sweet Honey in the Rock Sing-a-long: 11 a.m.,  RCC Hunters Woods. Tickets:  $5 Reston/$10 Non-Reston. Visit RCC’s ticket site to purchase tickets.

Community Lunch & Sweet Honey in the Rock Keynote Address:  12:30 p.m., RCC Hunters Woods. $5 Reston/$10 Non-Reston. Visit RCC’s ticket site to purchase tickets. There will be a family-style community lunch followed by a specially prepared musical keynote address featuring the songs of the civil rights movement.

Especially for Youth: 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.; 6 – 12 Years Old • Free
Registration Required • 704750-4A
Register your school age child (Grades 1 to 6 to participate in activities at RCC. Children should be registered in advance. Limited on-site registration will be available on the day of the event. Children will rotate through a series of activities including a performance, an age-appropriate video, and arts and crafts. All activities will be based on the history of Dr. King and the civil rights movement.

Photo of Sweet Honey in the Rock by Sharon Farmer/sfphotoworks