The spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. will be invoked this weekend at events organized by community activists, schools and even a group that supports salmon.
Whether giving a poetry reading, attending a workshop or getting muddy along the banks of a creek, Whatcom County residents can find ways to participate in service work and social justice projects.
The Poverty Action March, which includes drives for food and essential needs - everything from dish soap to diapers - starts at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16, at the Whatcom County Courthouse, 311 Grand Ave., then heads to the Federal Building and finally to Bellingham Municipal Court in time for the annual celebration at noon.
The march reflects the magnitude of need in the current economic downturn.
"It's to support and march alongside of those who have struggled through tough economic times," march chairman Jim Cozad said at a meeting of the Homeless Coalition earlier this month.
"Many new faces have been walking through our doors," he added - people not accustomed to unemployment, and people who have spent their retirement savings to pay the bills.
The essential needs drive was still seeking a number of hygiene items, including soap, shampoo and deodorant, according to a post Wednesday, Jan. 11, on the Poverty March Facebook page.
"A Dream of Financial Justice," the name of this year's Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, will take place at noon at Municipal Court, 2014 C St., with speakers and performances by Roger Griffith and the Kulshan Chorus. People who come are asked to bring a donation for Bellingham Food Bank.
The event is organized by a handful of private individuals and is sponsored by the city and other groups. New Bellingham Mayor Kelli Linville and new City Councilwoman Cathy Lehman are scheduled to speak, along with housing advocate Cozad and union leader Mark Lowry.
The event will be broadcast on BTV10, the city's TV station, and replayed several times this month.
Other events related to Martin Luther King Jr. Day include:
• A Read-In will be held 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Village Books, 1200 11th St., in conjunction with a community book drive. Parents are encouraged to bring their children ages 3 to 8 to join Western Washington University volunteers in reading stories with social justice themes. U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, is scheduled to participate in the readings.
• The public is invited to share a poem, song or reading focusing on diversity, human rights or related issues beginning at 6 p.m. at the Community Food Co-op's downtown store, 1220 N. Forest St. Limit your presentation to five minutes. Details: 360-734-8158.
• Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association and Whatcom Land Trust are hosting a salmon habitat restoration project from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Landingstrip Creek in Acme, weather permitting. For details, go to n-sea.org. Rep. Larsen is also expected to attend.
• Whatcom Community College and the Whatcom Human Rights Task Force will hold the 14th annual MLK Human Rights Conference, "Reawakening Dreams, Empowering Communities," with registration at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14. The conference includes workshops and two keynote speakers: university professor Dexter Gordon and lawyer Jeff Robinson. Details: whrtf.org.
