Upcoming Events

2024 MLK DAY

CELEBRATE MLK: JUSTICE, INCLUSION, AND THE ARTS

January 15, 2:00 PM at Smith Middle School, Glastonbury

Arts Activities and Music Performances for All Ages

Join us to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an occasion for the whole family to celebrate expressions of social justice through artistic media. The  event, “Celebrating MLK: Justice, Inclusion, and the Arts,” is sponsored by the Glastonbury Martin Luther King Community Initiative. The event will feature Caribbean Vibe Steel Drum Band, the Glastonbury High School Madrigals, Rock Painting by artist Faustin Adeniran, Mohegan Tribe-inspired coloring books on reclaiming their cultural heritage, RiseUP for Arts’ MLK Mural Project, a sing-along vocalist and the awarding of prizes for artistic works that best express the themes of justice and inclusion. More information on the MLK Day Art Contest can be found at: https://glastonburymlkci.org/mlk-art-contest/ .

The Celebration begins at 2:00 PM on January 15 at Smith Middle School, located at 216 Addison Road in Glastonbury.

The Glastonbury MLK Community Initiative seeks to inform the public on issues of social justice and to build an inclusive community. The Civil Rights Movement and Dr. King’s assassination in 1968 have brought significant recognition of the struggle for social justice and racial equity by museums and cultural institutions throughout the country.

Reflecting on the role of artists in times of turmoil, Toni Morrison wrote in 2015, “This is the time when artists go to work. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal. I know the world is bruised and bleeding, and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge—even wisdom. Like art.”

The Glastonbury MLK Community Initiative’s mission is to increase knowledge about, and understanding of, the philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King, and to provide leadership and active engagement to build an inclusive community. We engage residents of Glastonbury and surrounding towns in conversations about social justice issues. We believe – especially in today’s climate – that we must identify common ground between and among citizens rather than continue to exploit differences. In this way, we can foster meaningful relationships and dialogue and forge a better community.

For more information, please contact glastonburyMLKCI@gmail.com.