ILLUMINATING   THE BELOVED COMMUNITY

Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

On January 19, 2015 the 10^th annual Luminary event will occur. This year it is connected with the 50th anniversary of the Nineteenth Ward Community Association, a neighborhood organization which has practiced many of the values of Martin Luther King’s concept of The Beloved Community.  In 1965, the 19^th WCA, organized against many economic and social pressures for segregation and fought for policies to promote a prosperous, integrated urban community. Over the years 19^th ward residents have continued to advocate for fair, affordable housing and home ownership, quality local schools, community/police collaborations for crime prevention and a wide range of policies and services to promote and preserve a vibrant urban community.

This year the neighborhood plans to ‘light up the neighborhood” with luminaries, lanterns and flashlights to express our solidarity with the values of Martin Luther King’s Beloved Community and his important campaigns against racism, poverty and militarism.  In these challenging times we want to focus on the importance of coming together as a neighborhood community to celebrate our resilience and to join together to participate and support each other in the on-going work of not only organizing but creating a community that recognizes the values of  the Beloved Community.

This year there will be extensive block, district and area organization to encourage and facilitate the acquisition, distribution and display of a wide variety of luminaries throughout the area. Residents will be encouraged to gather at Hot Spots for Hot Chocolate and conversation in areas throughout the ward between 5pm and 8pm on January 19. Between 7pm and 7:10 pm everyone will be encouraged to stand near luminaries, Hot Spots and point any flash lights upward to illuminate the community and make it visible from above.

This is a block by block, district by district event. To volunteer or for further information contact co-chairs:

Doris M. Meadows (dmeadows@rochester.rr.com)  and

Zola Brown (zolabbrown@gmail.com) .

MLK