Bowie Hosts Program to Honor Martin Luther King Jr.

Bowie families have a chance to learn about the work to secure voting rights for everyone and Martin Luther King Jr.’s use of nonviolent protest during a program Saturday, Jan. 17.

The annual program begins at 10 a.m. at Bowie City Hall and features a tribute to the slain civil rights leader that focuses on teaching children about his work. In addition to the program, the City of Bowie also sponsors an art contest for students, encouraging them to learn about Dr. King’s work and contributions to civil rights.

• Read: What’s Open, Closed in Bowie on MLK Day 2015?

This year’s contest theme was “Champions of the Dream.” About 400 entries were received from local students, and works will be on display at the event.

Children in kindergarten through second grade submitted colored pictures of Dr. King. Students in third through fifth grade made posters and wrote about how their work displayed them or someone else being champions of the dream. Sixth- through 12th-graders submitted videos that focused on the theme in some way.

Of the numerous entries, 45 finalists have been selected. A winner will be announced in February.

>> Pictured, MLK Memorial in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.