Actress Deavere Smith Part of Reston’s MLK Day Weekend

Actress and playwright Anne Deavere Smith will be the keynote speaker at Reston Community Center’s 30th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Day Jr. Birthday Celebration on Jan. 19.

The address, “Reclaiming Grace in the Face of Adversity,” is at noon on Jan. 19 and is part of  three days of events to mark life and legacy of King.

Here is the schedule of community events:

Saturday, Jan. 17

9:00 a.m. —  Community Service Projects at Southgate Community Center.

Take part in a variety of projects, including sorting donations at The Closet, making meals for Embry Rucker Community Shelter, and cleaning up outdoor areas. Reston Community Center is partnering with Reston Association, Southgate Community Center, Cornerstones, and The Closet on community service projects. Registration is required through Reston Association.

4:00 p.m. — Musical Salute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at RCC Hunters Woods

Maestro Dingwall Fleary will lead the Reston Community Orchestra in the ninth annual musical salute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 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. New this year is an inspiring performance of Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech by students from Reston’s Al Fatih Academy. The performance is free for all ages, and donations are appreciated.

Sunday, Jan. 18

1:30 p.m. — Art Reception, RCC Hunters Woods

Reston children have created works with themes centered on the history of King and the civil rights movement,  art will be on display from early January through the end of the month.

3 p.m. — Community March — Lake Anne Plaza

Community members will assemble at Lake Anne Plaza, where 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 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.

4 p.m. — Voices of Inspiration Program at Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, 1441 Wiehle Ave. 

All ages are welcome to the free program. This is the 25th Anniversary program honoring Dr. King, which is sponsored by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Christian Church.

8 p.m. —  “Snapshots: Portrait of a World In Transition,” at CenterStage

Anna Deavere Smith performs her one woman show, “Snapshots: Portrait of a World In Transition,” at CenterStage at the Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. Smith slips in and out of character recreating a diversity of emotions and points of view on controversial issues. Tickets are $25 for Reston residents and employees, and $50 for non Reston, and are available through the CenterStage box office.

Monday, Jan. 19

11:30 a.m. — Children’s Activities at RCC Hunters Woods

Children in first through sixth grades are invited to take part in a series of activities based on the history of King and the civil rights movement.

Noon — Anna Deavere Smith’s Keynote Address, “Reclaiming Grace in the Face of Adversity” at CenterStage

A Community Lunch immediately follows. Tickets are $5 for Reston residents and employees, and $10 for others.

For volunteer opportunities, visit RCC’s website.

Photo: Anna Deavere Smith/Credit: CBS