Coming Up: Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Weekend

Reston Community Center will hold a series of events this weekend to kick-off the 33rd annual Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration.

Tamika Mallory, co-chair of the 2017 Women’s March on Washington, will deliver a keynote address on Monday at noon at RCC Hunters Woods (2310 Colts Neck Road). Tickets are $5 for Reston residents and $10 for all others. A community lunch will follow the speech.

Mallory, a nationally recognized advocate for social justice, worked closely with the Obama administration to push for civil rights, health care, equal rights for women and ending gun violence.

Leila Gordon, RCC’s executive director, said Mallory is among the “new and urgent voices” pushing the country toward realizing Dr. King’s vision.

“Reston’s annual celebration of his birthday has always been designed to reinvigorate our commitments to the goals of the civil rights movement and the values of Reston’s founding. We look forward to Ms. Mallory’s visit and her call to action,” Gordon wrote in a statement.

Tickets are available for purchase at CenterStage box office or online.

A breakdown of events scheduled for the celebration weekend is below.

Saturday, Jan. 13

• Community Service Projects at Southgate Community Center (12125 Pinecrest Road): Participate in community projects like making lunches for Embry Rucker Community Shelter and cleaning up local pathways from 9 a.m. to noon. All ages are welcome, but children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. To volunteer, call 703-435-7986 or email [email protected].
• Reston Community Orchestra Tribute at RCC Hunters Woods: The free concert will pay tribute to Dr. King’s vision of a society free of prejudice and racial divisions. Featured performers include students from Al-Fatih Academy and the Christian Church of Reston.

Sunday, Jan. 14

• Voices of Inspiration at Northern Hebrew Congregation (1441 Wiehle Avenue): The 27th annual program is sponsored by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Christian Church and other local faith communities. The event will begin at 10 a.m.

Monday, Jan. 15

• Youth Program at RCC Hunters Woods: While the community lunch takes place, children in first grade through sixth grade can watch videos, complete arts and crafts and do other activities based on the history of the civil rights movement from 11;30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Limited on-site registration will be available on the day of the event.

The celebration weekend is made possible by Martin Luther King, Jr. Christian Church, Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, Reston Community Orchestra, Reston Association, Southgate Community Center and Cornerstones, with the support of other religious and civic organizations, business groups, and schools.

Several days after the celebration weekend, RCC Hunters Woods will feature a performance about friendship and multiculturalism on Sunday, Jan. 21 at 3 p.m. 

Mohammad Bilal and Josh “Boac” Goldstein will challenge stereotypes linked to black and white, Jew and Muslim, and urban and suburban during their hip-hop concert titled, “The Color Orange.” Tickets are available for purchase $15 for Reston residents and $20 for all others.

Photo via Women’s March