Local students will celebrate the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life with songs, dances and dramatic readings during the 13th Annual Martin Luther King Festival this Sunday, Jan. 14, from 4-6 p.m. in the Westfield High auditorium. Snow date is Jan. 21.
Sponsored by the Chantilly Pyramid Minority Student Achievement Committee (CPMSAC) and Westfield's PTSA, the theme of this year’s event is “Martin Luther King Celebration: Reflection … Looking Back, Moving Forward!”
Co-chairs are Deneen Vaughn, Wanda Tanks-Gregory and Kim Graham.
"We all see this as an event that brings the community together to remember Martin Luther King’s legacy," said Graham. "Hopefully, we will all leave asking ourselves, 'What can we do to help keep the dream alive?'”
A blend of entertainment and education, it will feature performers from several schools and community organizations. Students from Chantilly High will sing “Cry Out Freedom” and give some oral interpretations of King's “I Have a Dream” speech.
The Centreville High Wildcat Guitar Sextet will perform, “We are the Flame,” and will accompany Centreville Elementary students on one of their songs. Westfield High students Sumayyah Abdullah and Te'Osha Baker-Bunche will sing “Hero” and “When You Come,” respectively.
Rocky Run Middle School's mixed chorus will perform, "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," and the Centreville Steppers — comprised of students from Centreville Elementary, Liberty and Stone middle schools and Centreville High — will dazzle the crowd with their footwork.
The Greenbriar East Elementary fifth-and-sixth-grade chorus will sing "Dr. King Had a Dream" and Greenbriar West Elementary's Alexa Quezada will perform a solo, "You Raise Me Up." Brookfield Elementary's chorus of students in grades four through six will sing "Woke Up This Morning."
Centreville Elementary Principal Jim Latt and Herndon Elementary Assistant Principal Connie Britt will team up for the number, "What about the Children?" Britt will sing and Latt will accompany her on the piano.
Colin Powell Elementary's "Performing Pumas" will sing "Martin Luther King" and give several dramatic readings. And Centreville Elementary fifth-graders will sing "He Had a Dream" and "Peace Will Come."
Lees Corner Elementary's sixth-grade chorus will perform "Oh, Freedom" and "What Can One Little Person Do?" In addition, student Kamryn Thomas will sing "The Dream of Martin Luther King."
The festival is free and open to the public.