Pasadena MLK Community Coalition

On August 29, 2016, the Martin Luther King Community Coalition officially kicked off the new 2016-2017 Essay and Visual & Performing Arts Contest year at the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) with superintendent, Dr. Brian McDonald, and Julianne Reynoso, Executive Director, Elementary Schools.

Dr. David and Jackie Jacobs presented the new 2016-2017 MLK Community Coalition Essay and Art Contest packet.  They also gave a report on the previous year, explained the processes and procedures of the contest, discussed recent updates to the contest packet, and reintroduced the new contest category, performing arts.

McDonald and Reynoso expressed their support and continued commitment to the annual Pasadena Martin Luther King, Jr. contest and holiday activities.  They will be following through with distributing the information to the schools and principals, encouraging school participation, and displaying the winning art in the Pasadena Unified School District office and website.

The Martin Luther King Community Coalition’s Art Contest winning entries are displayed in beautiful public environments with guaranteed high foot traffic to honor our winning artists.

The first location is the Pasadena Central Library at 285 East Walnut Street; Pasadena, CA 91101.  All of the beautiful winning art entries are displayed in the glass cases off of the north entry of the library.  They will be there until February 29, 2016.

For the month of March, the art will be exhibited at the Jackie Robinson Center located at 1020 North Fair Oaks Avenue; Pasadena, CA 91103.  The art will be in the company of other historical exhibits and displays and will also be part of the center’s display for ArtNight Pasadena on March 11, 2016.

Schedule a visit to these locations to view the artistic expressions of these talented students.

 

The Martin Luther King Community Coalition (MLK Coalition) in collaboration with the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) and the City of Pasadena presented their annual Martin Luther King Holiday Celebration on Monday, January 18, 2016. Student winners from the essay and art contest read their essays and presented their winning artwork to an audience of over 500 guests.  City council officials, PUSD representatives, Tournament of Roses presidents, and community leaders were in attendance to congratulate the students and present them with certificates, trophies, and a cash prize.

The celebration began with a colorful and beautiful performance by student dancers of Sol y Luna, a baile folklórico group led by Gabriela de León.  The event also included a variety of other dance and musical presentations, including McKinley Elementary School’s choral performance, “Rise Up with Hope in Your Hearts,” written by and led by teacher, Mr. Raimer Rojas, a dance routine by Eliot Middle School Dance Team, and a dramatic song presented by the Willard Elementary School Choir, directed by teacher, Ms. Edwina Daniel.

First place essay winners Gabriel Madrid (elementary), Ian Macklin Sims (middle school), and Anjali Roos (high school) read their essays in front of hundreds of guests that included their families, friends, teachers, and peers.

Tournament of Roses 2020 president, Laura V. Farber, Esq., who will be the first Latina to preside, was joined by Pasadena City College assistant superintendent and Tournament of Roses 2021 president, Robert B. Miller,  gave a special congratulatory messages to the winners of the essay and art contest.  Facing and speaking directly to the students, Farber warmly commended the students for their hard work and for utilizing their creativity and critical thinking skills in interpreting the contest theme.  Farber also spoke about Martin Luther King’s legacy of combating hate with love.

Another special moment was the award presentation from the Martin Luther King Community Coalition to McKinley Elementary School teacher, Mr. Rojas, for his continued participation in the MLK Essay and Art Contest.  This year, his students won first, second, and third place in the elementary school essay category.

The students’ winning art is currently featured on the homepage of the MLK Community Coalition’s website at pasadenamlk.com and will remain there for the remainder of the year.  The original pieces of student art work will be on display at the Pasadena Central Library, located at 285 East Walnut Street Pasadena, CA 91101, from February 1 through February 29, 2016.

The annual MLK Celebration is presented in association with the Pasadena Unified School District, Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Aspires West Pasadena, Friends Indeed, Scott United Methodist Church, Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority-Pasadena Chapter, and the City of Pasadena.

For more pictures from the celebration, click on the Photos tab and visit our MLK Flickr album.

 

Please join the MLK Community Coalition Saturday, January 18, 2016 at 8 a.m. for a A Day On, Not Off, a campus beautification day being held at Hamilton Elementary School.  The day will begin with breakfast followed by an inspirational program with guest speaker, Pasadena Councilmember, John J. Kennedy.  Afterwards, volunteers from all over the city will come together to plant flowers and provide maintenance tasks for the school.

The MLK Community Coalition has been working with the PUSD community to provide campus beautification since 2001.  This year, A Day On, Not Off is dedicated to the memory of Al Bailey, the co-founder and previous chairperson, who passed away just 2 months after the 2015 A Day On, Not Off beautification day.  During this 15th year anniversary of the committee, Mr. Bailey’s tireless energy and dedication and commitment to the MLK Community Coalition will be fondly remembered.

The committee is comprised of Chairperson, Mr. Gerald Peterson and members David Jacobs, Jackie Jacobs, and Dominique Bailey.

Plan your MLK Holiday now!  Below is the Martin Luther King Community Coalition’s 2016 Calendar of Events.  There are five local events being held from January 9, 2016 to January 18, 2016 that honor the legacy of Martin Luther King. To download a flyer, click here: MLK Community Coalition 2016 Calendar of Events.

Show your support by volunteering or by just attending.  If you are interested in serving your community in some capacity this year, please use the contact numbers and emails listed below.

January 9, 2016
Rekindling the Light of Peace
Pasadena City Hall Chambers, 10 a.m.
100 N. Garfield Avenue | Pasadena, CA 91101

Description:  The Pasadena Human Relations Commission invites the public to attend the 15^th annual “Rekindling the Light of Peace” event in the City Council Chambers at Pasadena City Hall.

The free event features guest speakers, music and poetry readings and is a prelude to celebrations that occur on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

In addition to the City’s Human Relations Commission, the event is supported by The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Coalition, the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, Ecumenical Council of Pasadena Area Churches, YWCA Pasadena Foothill Valley, the Pasadena Unified School District, Altadena NAACP, Pasadena NAACP, Aspires West Pasadena, the Pasadena Journal and the Pasadena Weekly.

To read a moving post written in 2004 by Mayor Bill Bogaard, click here.

For more information, the public can call (626) 744-4234 and visit http://www.cityofpasadena.net/.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016 @ 5:30 p.m.
MLK Essay and Visual and Performing Arts Finalists’ Public Readings, Displays, and Presentations
Don Benito Fundamental School
3700 Denair Street | Pasadena, CA 91107

Description: Come listen to original speeches and enjoy an evening of viewing beautiful artwork paying tribute to Dr. King by the MLK Essay and Visual & Performing Arts Contest finalists and winners.  Admission is free.

Saturday, January 16, 2015 @ 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
MLK Day of Service:  A Day On, Not Off
Hamilton Middle School
2089 Rose Villa Street | Pasadena, CA  91107

Description:  On the Saturday before the MLK Day of Service, it is our tradition to provide a local school with volunteers to help beautify the campus.  The day will begin at with breakfast at 8 a.m.  Afterwards, there will be the program at 8:30 a.m., with the planting at 9:30 a.m.  Volunteers will help us plant flowers, clean up, and do several maintenance tasks.  This is a cooperation between Martin Luther King Community Coalition and Pasadena Unified School District and the school principal.

Sunday, January 17, 2016 @ 3:30 p.m.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Celebration Service
Metropolitan Baptist Church
2283 N. Fair Oaks Ave. | Altadena, CA  91001

Description:  The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Greater Pasadena presents its 2016 edition of the “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Celebration Service,” featuring local pastors. The event is hosted by Rev. Tyrone L. Skinner from Metropolitan Baptist Church. The Ministerial Alliance, a fellowship of more than thirty local pastors and ministers who are spiritual leaders in the community, has been sponsoring these annual local celebrations since the first year after Dr. King’s death in 1968.

For more information, visit http://ima-greaterpasadena.org/index.html.

Monday, January 18, 2016 @ 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration and Student Awards
Jackie Robinson Park
1081 North Fair Oaks Ave. | Pasadena, CA 91103

• 8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m.:  Continental Breakfast
• 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.:  Teach-in
• 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.:  King Holiday Celebration and Program
• 12:30 p.m.:  Lunch

Description:  The Martin Luther King Community Coalition, Pasadena Unified School District, Pasadena Tournament of Roses, and Aspires West of Pasadena in conjunction with the city of Pasadena, National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Gamma Lambda chapter presents the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday breakfast and celebration.

Families, friends, community members, local and state political leaders will be in attendance as student finalists are presented awards for their participation in the MLK Community Coalition Essay and Art Contest.  This free event features guest speakers, music, food, arts and crafts for kids, and is the culminating ceremony of the 2016 MLK Holiday Celebration events.

On August 3, 2015, the Martin Luther King Community Coalition officially kicked off the new 2015-2016 Essay and Visual & Performing Arts Contest year at the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) with superintendent, Dr. Brian McDonald, and Julianne Reynoso, Executive Director, Elementary Schools.

Dr. David and Jackie Jacobs presented the new 2015-2016 MLK Community Coalition Essay and Art Contest packet.  They also gave a report on the previous year, explained the processes and procedures of the contest, discussed recent updates to the contest packet, and unveiled a new contest category.  In addition to the traditional visual arts competition, a performing arts division of the contest has been added!

McDonald and Reynoso expressed their support and continued commitment to the annual Pasadena Martin Luther King, Jr. contest and holiday activities.  They will be following through with distributing the information to the schools and principals, encouraging school participation, and displaying the winning art in the Pasadena Unified School District office and website.