An Important Message
A new year is just beginning. 
What a wonderful opportunity for all of us set a respectful and kind tone in the year ahead. Remembering the life of a true leader is a good way to start.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, January 16. Many of our businesses in Shady Pines will be closed on this national holiday.
Rita Marena is the Director of the Community Center.
Since the elementary school next door will also be closed, Rita is putting together a program Monday to help children know more about this important civil rights hero.
Who Is Martin Luther King, Jr?
He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 15, 1929. Martin Luther King Jr. made it his life’s mission to bring compassion, fairness and equality to all Americans.
Not everyone believed the way he did back in the 1950’s and ’60’s. To bring about change in America, Dr. King became a social activist and civil rights leader.
He lived in the South and fought against the longstanding practice he experienced that not all people were treated the same. He saw that Black people did not have the same rights as White people so he led peaceful marches and nonviolent protests.
Guided By Family, Faith and The Constitution
Martin became a Baptist minister. His faith guided him to believe in justice and the United States Constitution 
which says that all people in this country have the same rights no matter the color of their hair, skin, religion, age, disability or nationality.
He was married to Coretta Scott King, who helped lead the way during the civil rights movement. They were married nearly 15 years.
Dr. King gave his life for his Dream of Equality for All. Thousands of people were there for his famous speech on the mall in Washington DC where he declared that dream.
Shortly after that, Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Dream Lives On
Monday at the Shady Pines Community Center Rita will lead the celebration of Martin Luther King Day. Children will be asked to think about their dreams. What inspires them?
Ray Robinson will be there. He’s been learning about Dr. King in school and he will talk about ways kids and their families can make the world a kinder place through peaceful change, just like Dr. King did.
The children will write down their dreams and ideas or draw pictures. 
Then they’ll have something on paper to hang on the fridge or elsewhere at home. It will be a source of inspiration throughout the year.
Martin Luther King’s legacy continues to lift up people who learn about his determination to make us better people and a better nation. You can visit the monument created in his honor in Washington, DC.
Written on the side of the monument are theses words: “Out Of The Mountain Of Despair A Stone Of Hope.”
This holiday kind of snuck up on me. Thant you for the reminder of its importance
Well done
Shady Pines does such a nice job bringing important topics to kids in an entertaining way
A great way to bring the meaning of MLK to children and to remind adults what this holiday represents.
So glad you liked it Trish!
I’m sending this post to my daughter. She has two children who need to see it
It’s sometimes easy to enjoy a day off and not remember the significance of the holiday. Good post
It’s sometimes difficult to explain the importance of Martin Luther King to children. I think this post did a very good job
What an excellent way to help all children relate to Martin Luther King, Jr. We all have dreams, and the right to pursue them, regardless of color or creed. Thank you for helping us to remember King’s beautiful speech.
Thank you Sheri
I always look forward to your Shady Pines updates. The MLK celebration in Shady Pines will be one that Ray will remember for years to come.
A lovely sentiment Tammy. Thank you!
Thank you, again to Shady Pines for the reminder of our upcoming holiday of Martin Luther King Day and its history.
Glad you enjoyed it Elaine!
This post made me feel hopeful. Thank you
I really like the idea of kids writing down their dreams as inspiration. What a great idea
It’s so important to focus on the peaceful protest approach. We need more of that right now
What a wonderful way to present this information. Well done
An excellent post
Thank you so much Joanne!