From the mayor’s office..
Please join Newton Mayor Setti Warren on Monday Jan. 16 at the 49th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Newton Community Celebration. Convened by the City of Newton, The Foundation for Racial, Ethnic, & Religious Harmony, Interfaith Clergy Association, and the Newton School Department, this annual tradition celebrates and honors the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
In his keynote remarks, Mayor Warren will highlight the One Newton initiative and action steps our community can take now to support inclusion. The mission of One Newton is to build a welcoming and inclusive city for all – to strive to understand the perspective of our fellow community members and to work together to strengthen our city. A group of individuals representing clergy, parents, police, NPS personnel, students, and other community organizations has been meeting for a year to begin this effort.
Mayor Warren will ask members of the Newton community to sign onto the One Newton pledge to demonstrate the commitment to civil discourse and assuring that everyone in Newton – no matter their current circumstances – can count on the support of the City and their neighbors to meet the challenges of the 21st century in achieving their full potential.
What: 49th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Newton Community Celebration
When: Monday Jan. 16, 9:30-10:30am
Where: Temple Beth Avodah, 45 Puddingstone Lane, Newton Centre, MA 02459
Count me in. Sounds like an appropriate way to start inauguration week.
From the “things I’ll never forget” file…
Dr King sacrificed his life in Memphis while supporting striking trash collectors.
Fast Forward a few decades…
The Newton Board of Aldermen screwed most of our trash collectors out of their jobs, by switching to automated trucks. It’s always bothered me. I thought I’d mention it.
Congratulations to the Foundation for Racial, Ethnic, & Religious Harmony, Interfaith Clergy Association, Mayor Warren and everyone else involved with this morning’s event.
Temple Beth Avodah was packed, surely the largest MLK Day program here in Newton in years. And the program –particularly the student essay readers — was really moving.
Oh and the Love Tones sang (with a great shout-out to Rev. Howard Haywood)! And it doesn’t get better than that!