Food Lion® Presents MLK Day 2022: Community Dreams (Virtual)

MLK Day 2022 Virtual Stream

Part 2 - Unmasked

Part 1

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."

Program Update: With inclement weather forecasted and increased health and safety precautions, our MLK Day 2022 celebration will take place virtually. Stay tuned to our website for any updates or additional information.

The Gantt Center will celebrate the national observance of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday with free virtual family-friendly programming.

How To Participate

This free virtual celebration will be streamed on the Gantt Center's official YouTube channel.

MLK Day 2022: Community Dreams Virtual Schedule

9 am - 9:30 am
Now is the Time: Theater Performance of Excerpts from Martin Luther King Jr.'s Speeches

Presented by Three Bone Theatre, Charlotte actors will perform powerful excerpts of King's words. Focused on Letter from the Birmingham Jail and highlighting sections of his I Have a Dream, I've Been to the Mountaintop, and The Other America speeches, this 30-minute piece will also ask the audience, "What will YOU do to change the world?"

9:30 am - 10:30 am
Dream Builder Reading and Workshop with Kelly Starling Lyons

Meet the author of the children's book Dream Builder: The Story of Architect Philip Freelon, Kelly Starling Lyons, as she reads a childhood story of our building's architect Phil Freelon, followed by an interactive writing experience.

Materials needed for this workshop: lined paper, blank paper, pencils, and crayons or colored pencils.

10:30 am - 11:30 am
Civil Rights "Movement" Performance by Jermaine Nakia Lee

Watch and join in an interactive dance performance that demonstrates the style and story of African-American dancers and choreographers who drew inspiration from Rev. Dr. King and the triumphant Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and '60s.

11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Coretta Scott King Performance and Workshop with Carlo Dawson

Meet Coretta Scott King, hear her speak, and participate in a hands-on, interactive experience of story and song as participants learn how to put words into action like Mrs. King and other men and women of the Civil Rights era.

Materials needed for this workshop: blank paper, construction paper or posterboard, multi-colored markers, scissors, pencils, tape, and a ruler or straight edge.

12:30 pm
Sponsor Remarks

Hear from Food Lion, proud sponsor of this year's MLK Day.

12:45 pm - 2 pm
Live Music: Jazz Speaks for Life with Quentin Talley

In a speech that opened the 1964 Berlin Jazz Festival, Rev. Dr. King said that "jazz speaks for life. The Blues tell the story of life's difficulties, and if you think for a moment, you will realize that they take the hardest realities of life and put them into music, only to come out with some new hope or sense of triumph." Enjoy the lively sounds of classic and contemporary jazz with Quentin Talley and his bandmates.

2 pm - 3 pm
Film screening: Our Friend, Martin

Produced by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and DIC Entertainment in collaboration with the family of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Our Friend, Martin is an animated, feature-length film that features two sixth-grade boys who are transported back to the time of civil rights leader Dr. King. They learn about his life and his contribution to humankind by experiencing the moment themselves and watching history in the making. The animated story is interspersed with authentic historical footage celebrating the life and work of Dr. King.

3 pm - 4 pm
Community Dreams Workshop with Shane Manier

What does a successful community look like to you? Participants will draw, color, or paint scenes of a thriving community on hexagon shapes, after which all shapes will be combined to create a community honeycomb art installation.

Materials needed for this workshop: blank paper, highlighters, oil pastels or crayons, and markers.

4 pm - 5 pm
Panel Discussion: Dream Builders in History

As we seek to reflect on our collective vision, this panel discussion includes leaders and "Dream Builders" who have paved the way for ourt community to realize its dreams. Moderated by artist and theologian Rev. de'Angelo Dia, the conversation will be joined by Ms. Dorothy Counts-Scoggins and Rep. Kelly Alexander.

MLK Day 2022 is proudly sponsored by Food Lion...

...and graciously supported by Wells Fargo.