Where
Online at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_Mr-xxl_lLIrr0GLmZOZ_g
Contact
For community members of all ages!
Ways to Watch the Program!
--CLICK HERE to stream the program, with a live chat via YouTube
--CLICK HERE to live stream from Pegasus (and then click Live Stream under the Public Access Channel header)
--Watch through Natick Community Television (Natick Pegasus) Channels: RCN 3, Comcast 99, and Verizon 29
*Program will be shown on all platforms with Closed Captioning*
Celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy that inspires and empowers us all. This year's program will feature:
- A Keynote from Deacon Arthur Miller (see bio below)
- Greater Natick Interfaith leaders and community partners
--Click HERE to download an event program, and follow along with our participants and performers!
--Click HERE for information about the Virtual Community Welcoming Fair, with Live Links to participate, and Watch Anytime content!
--Click HERE to dowload a flyer from Natick Service Council with ways you can help Neighbors in Need on MLK Day, and every day!
Artist credits L-R - Juliana Rivera, Kennedy Middle School, Grade 7; " Bearing Witness" Giri Ramachandran, Wilson Middle School, Grade 7; Meghan Pole, Kennedy Middle School, Grade 7
The 17th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration + Welcoming Fair is co-sponsored by the Greater Natick Interfaith Clergy Association, Natick Is United, the Natick Board of Health, Natick 180, Town of Natick, Natick Public Schools, METCO, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and SPARK Kindness.
Everyone is also welcome to gather virtually immediately following the program, at 11:15am, for special MLK Day activities for all ages offered by community partners! HERE is a downloadable list of Welcoming Fair Activities - Live Virtual opportunities and Watch Anytime offerings!
Click any of the links below to access activities and content from community partners. If programming is LIVE it is indicted with (*) and the word LIVE.
Artist credits L-R Noa Brand, Kennedy Middle School Grade 8; JoJo Flynn Wilson Middle School Grade 7; Olivia Varghese Kennedy Middle School Grade 7
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*Family Promise MetroWest - LIVE Program - For elementary school aged kids and caregivers!
Join Paula Brown, Outreach & Network Coordinator from Family Promise Metrowest who will be leading an educational craft project for kids to raise awareness of family homelessness and to raise funds to help families in our community who are facing homelessness.This program is primarily for elementary aged kids, though children of all ages can participate in this activity. Sign up HERE to be sent information on how to obtain Houses for Change materials in time for the event!
–Join the program by clicking the Zoom link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88200072538?pwd=ZGFXODdMUDdmUlJYRmU0b1NSWlNldz09 Meeting ID: 882 0007 2538 Passcode: 20303
*Morse Institute Library - LIVE Program - All ages!
Meet Jennifer Belcher, Information Services Supervisor, and join her to learn how to navigate the Morse Institute Library webpage, while discovering the library’s resources on MartinLuther King, Jr and Civil Rights. 2 learning opportunities will be offered!
–Join Session 1 at 11:15 by clicking the Zoom link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84716226892?pwd=M2s0RGtsSkw3Y3VCUDdHRHpObGpZdz09 Meeting ID: 847 1622 6892 Passcode: 41588
–Join session 2 at 11:45 Session 2 by clicking the Zoom link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89243225860?pwd=SE41bjRuZHdZa2Y0K1FoaGd3NUJWZz09 Meeting ID: 892 4322 5860 Passcode: 638224
*Natick Service Council - LIVE Program - All Ages!
Join NSC for a virtual food pantry tour, and then have an opportunity to talk with NSC staff about their programs and services in a Q&A format. Participate in their drive for much needed non perishable food items and clothing - flyer HERE.
–Join the program by clicking the Zoom link below:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82817389309?pwd=cGdmM2lVaVR6c0p5bFFnbGRITW5sQT09 Meeting ID: 828 1738 9309 Passcode: 933692
*H.U.G. Help us Greet! - LIVE Program - All ages! With a focus on parent/caregivers adult volunteers
Are you interested in welcoming families new to our Beloved Community? Learn about Natick's volunteer HUG (Help Us Greet) program that welcomes families new to our schools by matching newcomers with "rooted" families. Come chat with HUG coordinators, volunteers and other HUG-curious folks.
–Join the program by clicking the Zoom link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86299943749?pwd=bG9BMlptWEhWUUd1UmdMNzI2cFJmZz09 Meeting ID: 862 9994 3749 Passcode: 188051
*Natick is United Group Draw - LIVE Program - All ages!
Come draw together with friends and neighbors across the community, online & in real-time! NIU invites you to join us in a group draw for all ages! No downloads or special tools necessary. Just sign in after the program, and we’ll send you a link to join our collaborative art board.
–Join the program by signing in HERE or https://www.natickisunited.org/group-draw
Watch Anytime!
Natick Is United - Visit them at https://www.natickisunited.org/
Natick is United is a town-wide network connecting people through advocacy, education, celebration and conversation to build a vibrant and safe community where we stand together and stand up for one another. All are welcome to join and be part of this vibrant and inclusive group!
WATCH: On Monday, January 18th, 2021, Natick residents shared their diverse experiences about Being Black In Natick. You can find the video at our website https://www.natickisunited.org/niupanel and other videos of Natick is United programming here: https://www.natickisunited.org/videos Please let us know what your impressions were by taking this 5 question survey! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NIUpanel
Natick 180 - Visit them at https://natick180.org/
Natick 180 serves as Natick’s principal community-based coalition for inclusive and culturally-responsive addiction education, prevention and recovery. For more information about Natick 180, visit: https://natick180.org/. To learn more about our upcoming events and programs in the community, visit: https://natick180.org/events/.
WATCH: Here is a link to a pre-recorded video which shows how community organizations and resources are working together to prevent and respond to addiction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUdUTKLDA-I
METCO, Inc. - Visit them at https://metcoinc.org/
METCO is a program funded by the state of Massachusetts to expand educational opportunities, increase diversity, and reduce racial isolation by permitting students from Boston to attend public schools in other communities that have agreed to participate.
Since its founding, the METCO program has enrolled tens of thousands of Boston students of color in participating school districts and has provided the opportunity for students in those districts to experience the advantages of learning and working in a racially and ethnically diverse setting.
The city of Boston is much more than the Freedom Trail and the Back Bay. Its neighborhoods are full of fun, fascinating, and flourishing communities and landmarks. Who better to show you some of the unsung sites than young people who live there? The presentation you are about to see is the final project of a summer jobs program hosted at METCO's headquarters. More than 30 local students, who attend high schools all over the suburbs through the METCO program, worked at the office while building their professional skills. As part of their civic engagement project, the teens researched the area around the METCO office, which just this year moved to the neighborhood called Nubian Square (formerly Dudley Square). They presented what they learned in a walking tour, which will be offered again when the weather warms up. We hope you will sign up for that experience! To tide us over, they created this virtual version to give you a taste of the richness of this community. Eleven students represented in this recorded tour, showing you what they found interesting about eight major landmarks within a few blocks of METCO's headquarters. We hope all of you will be inspired to look around at the history and culture that often goes unheralded.
WATCH: METCO Inc. Virtual Tour of METCO HQ and Nubian Square: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQgDo-n1ysk The student's presentation is here.
And a preview of METCO HQ is here.!
Natick Center Cultural District - Visit them at https://www.natickcenter.org/
The Natick Center Cultural District is home to more than 200 working artists, The Center For Arts in Natick, the Morse Institute Library, The Walnut Hill School for the Arts, many independently owned businesses and cultural organizations, and an active Parks and Recreation Department, all contributing to a busy year-round schedule of arts and cultural events.
Visitors to Natick Center can expect an intimate, friendly experience and the rich heritage of a classic New England town, while celebrating a vibrant, contemporary fusion of art, culture and business. Against the backdrop of the quintessential New England town center, a passionate group of committed individuals and organizations work, through businesses and studios, to create a dynamic and diverse community.
We work in partnership with the Town of Natick and committed members to cultivate a lively and diverse downtown neighborhood by enhancing the cultural, economic, and social life of our community.
WATCH: Check out these special recent and past projects of NCCD:
Peace Love Natick video: Peacelovenatick 01760 Project 2021 - YouTube
Carol Krentzman - History of Natick History of Natick Mural - YouTube
Carol Krentzman - We the People We the People Mosaic Project Documentary with Artist Carol Krentzman, Mini-Doc Created by Don Porter - YouTube.
SPARK Kindness - Visit them at https://www.sparkkindness.org/
Launched to counter cyberbullying in 2010, SPARK Kindness has grown into a nonprofit convener, educator, resource, and friend—and the biggest fan of our community's shared strengths. SPARK Kindness hosts speakers, parenting groups, community activities, and supports whenever needed. All SPARK programs and resources are FREE thanks to dedicated volunteers, donors, business and philanthropic sponsors, and friends.
Every time we do something to help our community grow more kind, resilient and welcoming, we SPARK Kindness. Together as families, schools, organizations, businesses, coaches, artists, faith and community leaders, we can make sure no one feels alone, bullied, unsupported or unconnected every day, and especially in challenging times.
WATCH: SPARK Kindness recently hosted a program with Dr. Roxy Manning, discussing how to have difficult conversations while centering kindness and justice. You can watch he program and see additional resources from Dr. Manning and SPARK about non violent communication HEREThe 17th Annual MLK Day Celebration will feature a keynote address from Deacon Art Miller.
Deacon Miller is a certified trainer in Dr. King’s nonviolence philosophy and to this day addresses 21st-century examples of the societal tendency to embrace violence. Echoing the thoughts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he believes that as part of the great human experience, no one can sit idly tolerant of the great injustices that happen anywhere in the world.
Deacon is an author, radio, and former television host, Vietnam-era veteran and veteran civil rights worker. Miller was ordained for the Archdiocese of Hartford in 2004. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1966 and received his MBA from DePaul University in 1972. Currently he is the director of the Office for Black Catholic Ministries. Besides his assigned parish, he is the Chaplin at Hartford’s Capital Community College and Adjunct faculty for Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford and Our Lady of Calvary Retreat Center in Farmington, CT.
At public forums, houses of worship, schools and universities across the country, Deacon Miller addresses issues of social injustice. With firsthand knowledge he speaks to his audiences from the perspective of an African American who grew up on the South Side of Chicago in the 1940s and 1950s. Deacon Miller was 10 years old in 1955 when his schoolmate Emmett Till, age 14, was brutally murdered in Mississippi for allegedly whistling at a white woman—an incident that energized the nascent Civil Rights Movement. His recently released book “The Journey to Chatham”, details the historic events seen through the eyes of Emmett’s friends.
The Natick Freedom Team is a volunteer and nonpartisan organization.
We exist to listen and facilitate discussions for individuals and groups, encouraging people to be upstanders and not bystanders investing in interrupting racism, bigotry, and prejudice whenever encountered.