What To Know About MLK Day Events For Children & Families

CONNECTICUT —In his ‘I Have A Dream’ speech, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

Yes, it’s a day off from school, and for many, work, but it’s far more.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, is an opportunity to teach children about King and his message of equality.

There are a number of events and exhibits where families can at once enjoy time together but also engage in discovery about King.

Please share your MLK Day 2020 event in the comments below or email ellyn.santiago@patch.com.

Hartford

Visit the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center where there will be Stowe House tours, family activities, a Salons at Stowe conversation, and noon bell ringing for peace. Hands-on activities illuminate Stowe and King’s work for social change and connect issues and activism of the past to those of the present. Families and guests of all ages to this annual event. For more information, visit the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center website here.

The Connecticut Dance Alliance will host the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Dance on Monday at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts in Hartford from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The annual event, which features master classes, seminars and panel discussions, was created by the CDA to honor and celebrate Dr. King's legacy and teachings, as well as the significant contributions made by people of color to the world of dance. The theme of this year's event is Legends, Legacy and Lineage. Master classes on modern dance, Afro-Caribbean, stilt walking and jazz will be available for intermediate and experienced dancers. A seminar on how students can successfully apply to college dance programs will be held, as well as a panel discussion focusing on the African-American dance experience. Guest artists for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Dance include Broadway musical theatre veteran Stephanie Pope; former principal soloist with the Martha Graham Dance Company Kim Stroud; New Haven-based dance teacher, choreographer, dance educator and dancer Christine Kershaw; founding member of The National Dance Theatre Company of Trinidad and Tobago Stephen Hankey; and founding company member of Island Reflections Dance Theatre Company Melissa Craig. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Dance will be held at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, 15 Vernon Street, in Hartford from 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. Full-day admission is $25 for CDA members and students from CDA member schools; $35 for non-members. Financial assistance for students is available upon request. On-site registration will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Classes will be held throughout the day from 9:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Participants are responsible for their own lunches. The CDA Regional Meeting Networking Luncheon for members of the dance community will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Dance of Dance is supported in part by the Greater Hartford Arts Council's United Arts Campaign, with major support from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. To register online, inquire about financial assistance, and to learn more about the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Dance, visit the website here.

And read more from Patch ‘Mayor’ Nancy Sasso Janis here.

Greenwich

The Bruce Museum holds the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Day, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
“Commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by creating artwork inspired by Dr. King’s values of compassion, love, courage, and forgiveness. Live performances by Karima A. Robinson, Ph.D., at 11:00 am and 1: 00 pm of “A So-Long Journey: The Early Years of Phillis Wheatley.” Wheatley was the first published African American woman poet and a leading figure in the early Abolitionist movement. MLK Family Day will also include a donation drive in partnership with Filling in the Blanks, which delivers weekend meals to children in low-income households. Free admission, no pre-registration required. Items Requested: New Full-Size Backpacks New Hats, Gloves, or Socks Children range from preschool through high school. For more information visit the Bruce Museum website here.

Ridgefield

The Ridgefield Playhouse presents the 24th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration.
Celebrate the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with music and song at this free event for the community! The 24th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration will honor the legacy of the great civil rights leader with an awards ceremony, speakers and performances. The Spirit of Dr. King Community Service Award is presented to members of our town who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to community service and selflessness in the finest traditions of Dr. Martin Luther King. This annual tradition honors the memory of Dr. King and celebrates how that memory lives on in the good works of Ridgefielders today. This year’s ceremony honors Dr. Carol Mahlstedt, who was instrumental in leading the creation and operation of Compassionate Ridgefield and Project Resilience, which develops programs that promote the social and emotional growth and resilience of children and adolescents in Ridgefield. This year’s ceremony will also include a special posthumous award presented to the family of Sharron Lavatori. Sharron served on many nonprofit committees, rolled up her sleeves to help whomever she could, and always offered kind words that came with generous deeds. She was known by many as “The Angel of Ridgefield.” In addition to honoring Carol Mahlstedt and Sharron Lavatori, the event will include readings from A Better Chance of Ridgefield and performances by ACT of CT Children’s Chorus, The Ridgefield Chorale and actress Kimberly Wilson.
The performance is free and begins at 3 p.m. For more information, visit the website here.

New Haven

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, kids and families can visit IKEA and make an "I Have a Dream" mobile, featuring each participant's dream for themselves, their community, and the world. Meet us in the restaurant from at 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. All supplies are provided at the activity, free of charge. Parents will need to assist any children participating under age 5. IKEA is located at 450 Sargent Drive, New Haven. Click here for more information.

Bristol

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Imagine Nation. Join us in celebrating civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a special series of workshops. The Museum Studios will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.. In celebration of this day, we'll explore Dr. King's vision of a world without limitations! Share your dreams and visions with us, and participate in a variety of special workshops throughout the day in our Museum Studios. Workshop Schedule: - 10:30am Make a Pin: Use an inspiring word or symbol for your own peace pin - 11:30 a.m. Story Time: listen to a story about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and why he marched - 1:30 p.m. Circle of Friends: Create an array of connected friends to bring home All Day: Hands Across Imagine Nation: It takes all of us, our differences, ideas, and hopes to make a peaceful future. Place your hand stamp on our group project and share an idea for hope or peace. All events included in admission, no registration required. Open for children ages 2 to 8 and their families. Included in museum admission, $10 per person ages 1+, free for members. The Imagine Nation, A Museum Early Learning Center is located at 1 Pleasant St., in Bristol. For more information click here.

King's Time In Connecticut
King spent time in Connecticut as a teenager. According to the Simsbury Historical Society, in 1944 when he was 15, King came with a group of Morehouse College students to work for the Cullman Brothers in their Simsbury-area shade tobacco fields. And he would return to Connecticut to work for Cullman Bros. again in 1947 between his junior and senior years at college. Simsbury High School students created a documentary about King as well as a permanent memorial. Read more about their efforts here.