When

Monday, January 16, 2023 at 10am

Community Connecting Event to immediately follow the program at 11am.

Add to Calendar 

Where

Kennedy Middle School - 165 Mill Street, Natick

-Live ASL interpretation

-Autism Welcoming

For questions about event accessibility, please reach out to info@SPARKKindness.org

Or online: You can livestream through Natick Pegasus - www.natickpegasus.org/ or watch through Natick Community Television
channels: RCN 3, Comcast 99, and Verizon 29 

 

 
Driving Directions 

Contact

Sarallyn Keller
Director of Spiritual Vitality & Congregational Care
First Congregational Church

 

Natick's 18th Annual

MLK Day Celebration

Monday, January 16th at 10am

Kennedy Middle School, Natick

For community members of all ages!

Back in person this year, with options to view the program virtually! 

Live ASL interpretation will be provided at this event.

Celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy that inspires and empowers us all. Our program will feature performances from student groups including:

--the Johnson Peacemakers
--the Black & Hispanic Student Alliance
--Change the World Club
--Natick High Jazz Combo, and
--Natick High School Orchestra

The program will also include Middle and High School MLK Day Creative Contest winners, community leaders and partners, Interfaith Clergy representatives, a moving keynote from Kevin McCarthy, LICSW, and more!
We hope you will join us immediately following the program for a Community Connection Event, including special MLK Day activities for all ages, and time to meet student groups, community organizations, neighbors and friends.

You can livestream this year's event through Natick Pegasus - www.natickpegasus.org/ or watch on Natick Community Television channels: RCN 3, Comcast 99, and Verizon 29 

--You can download the event program HERE
--You can view all of this year's MLK Day Creative Contest Winners HERE
--You can view other student MLK Day Creative Contest submissions HERE

Interested in watching a recording of our inspirational 2022 program? Click this link HERE to access our YouTube page!

Keeping Our Community Healthy & Safe: The Natick Health Department strongly recommends the use of a mask or face covering indoors, especially if you or someone in your household has a weakened immune system, or increased risk for disease. You can click here for more information. To learn about COVID-19 mask requirements in Massachusetts, click here. 

The 18th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration + Community Connection Event is co-sponsored by the Greater Natick Interfaith Leaders Association, Natick Public Schools,  Natick METCO, Natick Is United, the Natick Board of Health & Natick 180, the Town of Natick, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and SPARK Kindness.

Extra special thanks to Natick Pegasus and Station Manager, Randy Brewer, whose support and technical expertise makes this annual program possible!

About our Keynote Speaker: Kevin McCarthy, LICSW 

DEI & Anti-Racism Trainer, Human In Common

Creating the Beloved Community in Natick
Kevin J. McCarthy LICSW is a licensed independent clinical social worker, Psychotherapist and Consultant who specializes in assisting people with co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders find their pathway to recovery. 

Kevin is the Program Manager for Impaired Driving Rehabilitation and Substance Addiction Services at Eliot Community Human Services and an adjunct professorat the Boston College School of Social Work. He serves as board president for The Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery and Board 2nd VP for the Mass Chapter of the NASW. Kevin has served on the board of Heading Home INC since 2009, which he credits for inspiring him to a life of service to marginalized communities. 

Kevin also serves a part-time DEI & Anti-Racism trainer and consultant for Human In Common and considers himself a social worker for social justice and DEI changemaker.

 

A “Snacks for Students” drive will run in  advance of the holiday. We will be collecting peanut-free individually packaged snacks (dried fruit, pretzels, chips, goldfish), cereal bars, healthy granola bars, apple sauce (single serving), fruit cups (single serving), and juice boxes. Boxes will be placed at the town hall from Jan 9 - 13 and donations will be collected at the event January 16th. Download the flyer HERE.  

 


 

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.