Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
As we grapple with the events that unfolded at the Capitol on January 6, we hope that everyone in our community has found a moment to take care of themselves and their families. The uncertainty we've had to confront too frequently this year makes us all the more thankful for the anchors provided by traditions that we hold dear, not the least of which is our annual program honoring the living legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Our MLK program began on Wednesday with the Middle School Pre-Assembly where representatives from the MLK Committee introduced this year’s theme to students in 5-8th grades. Our theme is about process - understanding how to center ourselves in order to make change.
As students in the Early Childhood will outline for us at the Chapel next week, we can contextualize further:
- "Pause when you need to fix a problem."
- "Listen to other people's voices."
- "Understand what others are saying."
- "Act to make change."
Beginning Tuesday, January 12, the High School Symposium will engage the entire upper division in three days of student- and faculty-led workshops, forums, and learning opportunities centering antiracism, as well as a special presentation by our keynote speaker - author, poet, and activist Caroline Randall Williams. On Wednesday, the Middle School MLK Assembly will spotlight student presentations of poetry, writing, research, and art, as it has each year since the inception of the MLK programming.
Finally, we will all come together on Thursday for the annual Peace Chapel, organized by the MLK Committee and Rev. Hummell. This year, the chapel will be livestreamed in a webinar format to accommodate our students and families tuning in from home. The program will be no more than 30 minutes, and since we’re not bound by the capacity of the church, all are welcome to join us by clicking here at 9 a.m. on January 14. We will post a recording of the chapel service following the event.
The past few months have underscored the necessity for growth as a community as well as our willingness to learn from each other. This program is one way we choose to do so each year. Thank you for your continued support.
Jean-Robert Andre and the MLK Committee
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You can learn more about our program honoring Dr. King in this article by Chief Technology Officer and MLK Committee member Dr. Akbar Herndon.
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Grace Church School is a co-educational independent school in downtown Manhattan, New York City providing instruction for nearly 800 students in Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12.
