The Reston community continues its long commitment to commemorate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year’s three-day celebrations will be the 34th annual Reston celebration.
“The weekend will be of beauty, service, challenges to our comforts and motivation to give more of ourselves to realize Dr. King’s dreams of justice, prosperity for all – and peace.” said Leila Gordon, Executive Director, Reston Community Center.
“Reston Community Center’s (RCC) mission and vision are focused on our community: ‘enriching lives and building community for all of Reston,’” said Gordon. “We see our work as an extension of the founding values of Reston, particularly Bob Simon’s commitment to inclusion and making sure that every person in the community is able to reach their full potential and contribute to our civic well-being.
“Dr. King’s life was a pursuit of social justice, economic equity, and most of all, of realizing our common humanity and treating others in the spirit of that commonality.” added Gordon. “While he made giant strides in his all-too-brief lifetime, his work is very much incomplete – it’s our obligation to the meaning of his life and the goals of our community to continue to call attention to and strive to realize his and our collective dream.”
The weekend of events includes community service projects, concerts, a keynote address and activities for children. The events take place at the RCC and locations throughout Reston. Events include singer-songwriter Crys Matthews presenting thoughtful, emotional songs to remind audience member of why music soothes the soul.
Keynote speaker DeRay Mckesson, an organizer, activist and educator, will focus on issues of equity and justice. He is a leading voice in the effort to confront the systems and structures that led to mass incarceration and police killings of black and other minority individuals. His newly released book is “On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope.”
Matthews and Mckesson are “using their lives to be an instrument of positive and radical change in our communities and the larger country,” said Gordon. “Their work is committed to lifting up each and every person within our communities.”
“We at the Reston Community Center seek to inspire our people to work ever harder to achieve Dr. King’s vision for humanity – not just during the weekend of his birthday, but every day of the year,” said Beverly Cosham, Chairman, RCC Board of Governors.
Where and When
Reston Community Center presents a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration weekend. Events include:
Singer/songwriter Crys Matthews, on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019 at 2 p.m. at Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Hunters Woods, Reston, VA 20191. Ticket Prices: $15 Reston/$20. Call CenterStage Box Office at 703.476.4500 or visit www.restoncommunitycenter.com.
Civil Rights Activist, author and keynote speaker DeRay Mckesson on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019 at 12 noon at Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Hunters Woods, Reston, VA 20191. Ticket Prices: $5 Reston/Non-Reston. Call CenterStage Box Office at 703.476.4500 or visit www.restoncommunitycenter.com.
Note: Detailed information for the entire 3-day weekend of activities including community service projects, activities for children, concerts and community events honoring Dr. King are at https://www.restoncommunitycenter.com/attend-shows-events-exhibits/2019-mlk-celebration