Pasadena MLK Community Coalition

Keeping the Legacy of Martin Luther King Alive!

Pasadena MLK Community Coalition - Keeping the Legacy of Martin Luther King Alive!

Monthly Archives: August 2012

2012-2013 Essay and Art Contest Info

It is that time of year again—although, arriving a little sooner. The Pasadena Martin Luther King Community Coalition is proud to announce the call for student essay and student art entries for the 2012-2013 academic calendar. Please read the following information for rules regarding the contest.

Contest Prompt

Use the following prompt to create an essay or artwork that reflects your answer to the question being asked.

“Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed of more humanity for all–what is your dream for America?”

Deadline

Entries must be postmarked no later than Friday October 5, 2012. All entries delivered in-person are due no later than 6pm on Friday October 5, 2012

Contestants must submit one copy of their essay to

Martin Luther King Essay Contest
Dr. David Jacobs
444 N. Orange Grove Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91103-3541
(Note: All essays become the property of MLK Coalition and may be used for promotional and educational purposes)

Winners will be notified by December 6, 2012

Rules

We admit it: we are very consistent. Click here for rules regarding the essay contest. OR, click here for rules regarding the art contest.

New Martin Luther King Recording Found

At the age of 31, Dr. King had embarked on a trip to Africa to witness the inauguration of Nigeria’s first non-colonial government.

So, what did he think about Africa and the political movements to remove vestiges of colonial rule across that continent? As a story reported by National Public Radio (NPR) reveals, King saw the civil rights movement as a piece within the mosaic of a worldwide human rights movement.

But listen for yourself to a very informative story at NPR “The World” here.

Host Marco Werman speaks with Raymond Windbush, the director of the Institute for Urban Research at Morgan State University in Baltimore. Marco has a Twitter account, too @MarcoWerman

August Local Events

The word august is an adjective that means “impressive.” Well, there are certainly an impressive line-up of free events in the month of August. A list of them follows and, of course, please take advantage of the price and enjoy.
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Events

Community
Youth Summit 2012
[Monday, August 13, 9am-7pm]

Day One’s annual Youth Summit is a conference organized for teens by teens. This year’s Youth Summit will provide teens with the education, strategy and empowerment they need to do something to improve their lives and the communities that they live in. This free event will give participants breakfast, session materials, lunch, afternoon meet-and-greet with local elected officials, a resource fair, lots of giveaways, new friendships and skills. Registration required.
Sponsored by Day One. For more info (including exact location) call 626.229.9750

Movies or Music in the Park
Movie Gnome and Juliet, 3D 
[Friday, August 17 @ 8pm]

Robinson Park
For more info, 626.744.4501    Sponsored by Pasadena City Human Services & Rec Dept

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Music Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars
[Saturday, August 11 @ 8pm]

The Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars are Sierra Leonean musicians who came together to form a band while living as refugees in the Republic of Guinea. A brutal civil war (1991-2002) forced them from their homes in Sierra Leone. Through music they find a place of refuge, a sense of purpose and a source of power. Venue and Sponsor The Levitt Pavilion Pasadena 85 N. Holly St Pasadena For more info call 626.683.3230
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Music David Wax Museum
[Friday, August 17 @ 8pm]

David Wax Museum, a folk band blending traditional Mexican son music with Americana in what they call “Mexo-Americana. The band had its breakthrough after winning a contest for a spot at the 2010 Newport Folk Festival. Venue and Sponsor The Levitt Pavilion Pasadena 85 N. Holly St Pasadena For more info call 626.683.3230
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Classes and Encounters
Computer Basics for Seniors in English & Spanish  
[Monday, August 13 and Friday, August 17 @ 2pm-3pm]

Villa Parke Branch Library For more info, 626.744.6510

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Explore Cambodia
[Monday, August 13 @ 7:30pm]

Travel off the beaten path to Cambodia with author Pierre Odier and experience the journey through photographs. RSVP required. Distant Lands Travel Bookstore in Old Town Pasadena For more info, 626.449.3220

Science and Technology–A Door Swings Wide Open

[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hile grazing through the sweeping volume of information on the Internet, I stumbled upon a really cool organization making its rounds across the country. Literally!

It’s called “Black Girls Code.” And its mission is to immerse minority females into computer programming by getting their fingers firmly rooted on computer keyboards and planting seeds of technological creativity in their souls. The program has expanded over the past year to include introducing girls to robotics in addition to computer programming. And after a successful year of interaction with teens and tweens, Black Girls Code has reached corporate America and academia, where like-minded geeks share the wisdom with a new generation of talent.

The organization was founded in April 2011 by Kimberly Bryant–a biotechnology/engineering professional who has worked in the biotechnology field for such companies as Merck, Dupont , Pfizer and GenTech. She knows what technology education can do for black women and is an engineer and a technology entrepreneur based in San Francisco doing something to share that dream.

Day One Announces Calendar for Youth Month 2012

[dropcap]N[/dropcap]early two decades ago, Pasadena was the first city in the U.S. to proclaim Youth Month in August.  According to an  article in local online publication, Pasadena Now, August is a significant ‘high-risk” month for many youth because “summer school, jobs, and camps come to an end, leaving teens with little or nothing positive to do, Youth Month seeks to provide healthy, fun alternative activities to help prevent alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.”

Christy Zamani, Executive Director of Day One is quoted as saying, “Youth Month is a way for us to reach youth and teens while helping parents provide their youth with safe and healthy summer outlets. This year we were committed to providing teens with a summer filled with activities that they’re interested in. The calendar is truly designed for teens by teens.”

Check out Day One and check out the August Events calendar. You’re bound to find something special…

Aug. 3 LOUD @ Day One (9pm-12am) – The Ultimate Teen Dance Party.

Aug 6 PUSH PLAY PASADENA @ Levitt Pavilion (3pm-8pm) – Uniting youth through arts + music, Push Play Pasadena is the first Pasadena Youth Music & Arts Festival, ever! Featured performances and activities include DJ sets, bands, singers, Folklorico, jewelry making, stepping exhibition, Side Street Projects art booth, graffiti art station, food trucks, and t-shirt construction and deconstruction.

Aug 13 Youth Summit @ Day One (9am-5pm) – DayOne’s annual Youth Summit provides teens with the education, strategy and empowerment they need to do something to improve their lives and their communities. The conference puts participants in the center of local legislative activity, allowing them to share ideas, energy and experiences with each other, as well as gain the opportunity to speak directly to local elected officials about policy changes needed to better support youth. Provided: breakfast, session materials, lunch, afternoon meet-and-greet with local elected officials, resource fair, lots of giveaways, new friendships and skills. The Youth Summit is will take place August 13, 2012, 9am-5pm @ 175 N. Euclid Ave, Pasadena 91101. Conference is free but seating is limited.

Aug 16 Game Day @ Brenen Park (10am-3:30pm) – Softball, sack races, flag football, beach volleyball, basketball, zumba, soccer, water balloon toss, water slide obstacle course, tug of war, raffles, free food, and dj.

Aug 17 Summer LUAU @ Day One (7pm-10pm) – Music, Fire Eaters, Hula Dancers, and home cooked BBQ. A fun, free evening for the whole family to celebrate our kids and show them how much the community cares about them.

For more information about any of the activities above, visit www.dayonepasadena.org. 

(The original article published and posted Tuesday, July 24, 2012 | 1:12 PM at PasadenaNow.com)