“Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'“
That is a question Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. asked during a speech he gave in Montgomery, Alabama in 1957.
All these years later, the holiday our nation observes to commemorate King's accomplishments and legacy is starting to evolve to include opportunities for service. In Acadiana, both types of commemorations are being observed.
Here's a list of what's going on around Acadiana today:
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE:
The Eta Chi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will be at Northgate Mall between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. accepting donations for the needy.
The items needed are: toiletries, hygiene items, new or gently worn shoes, used eyeglasses, used sunglasses and pillowcases.
If you'd like to do something outside, The Clearport Learning Center and Vermilionville Folk Arts Teen Advisory Council will be painting a mural to celebrate Black History Month on the Lafayette sign downtown. Anyone who wants to help can come. Dress comfortably, and make sure you don't mind getting paint on what you wear. Painting starts at noon.
EVENTS TO ATTEND:
Holy Ghost Church in Opelousas will host its 38th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and Memorial Program starting at 1 p.m. The parade rolles from the Farmer's Market and ends at the Courthouse. The memorial program starts at 2 p.m. at the church.
Also in Opelousas, there will be a memorial program at Opelousas General. The program starts at 1 p.m. in the Main Campus Auditorium on the third floor.
In Loreauville, the MLK Jr. 36th annual march will start at 10 a.m. at Loreauville Park and end at Our Lady of Victory Church, where there will be a program including Gospel and praise dancers.
Kaplan will host an event called Rise Up Be the Change. It will begin at 10:30 a.m at New Beginnings Primitive Baptist Church on East Veteran's Memorial Drive. A march will begin at 1 p.m. at the police department and end at the church where the program will start.
Lafayette's MLK weekend celebration culminates Monday at the King Center on Cora Drive. The activities begin at 8:30 a.m. with a flag raising, followed by a community luncheon program at 11:30 a.m. All day long there will be Medical/Health Screenings, Voter Registration and Display Booths/Exhibits. The day wraps up with an Evening Commemorative Program that begins at 6 p.m. featuring the Rev. Nelson B. Rivers, III, Pastor, Charity Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston, South Carolina.
New Iberia's event will be in the West End Park's Martin Luther King Recreation Center and begins at 1 p.m. This year's theme is Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere and the speaker will be the Rev. Mark Lewis, Pastor Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. Refreshments will be served.
