WSLR’s Ishmael Katz talks to an organizer of the Jan. 17-20 festivities.
By Ishmael Katz
Original Air Date: Jan. 3, 2024
Host: WSLR News reporter Ishmael Katz talked to one of the main organizers of the Martin Luther King Day celebrations, which will be upon us on and around January 20.
Ishmael Katz: Martin Luther King Day is fast approaching, and the Newtown Redevelopment Corporation has events planned for the weekend before, and including Monday, Jan. 20. Festivities begin on Friday, Jan. 17, 5 pm, with a movie on the history of Newtown from its inception in 1914. This movie will also be shown on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 5 pm. Both showings will be at the Newtown Estates Park, 2800 Newtown Estates Boulevard, just east of Highway 301. On Monday, Jan. 20, the official celebration of the national holiday. The festivities kick off with a breakfast at the Robert Taylor complex at 1945 35th Street. This breakfast generates enough income to help five to six students who are wanting to further their education or careers.
Jetson Grimes
Jetson Grimes: Yes, the Greater Newtown Community Redevelopment Corporation, our corporation, has been in service for 26 years. We picked up the event in 1980, I think even before it became a national holiday, and we’ve been doing it ever since. It’ll be our 41st year of doing the event.
IK: It is from the Robert Taylor complex that the mile-long Unity Walk to Martin Luther King Jr Park on the corner of MLK Way and Cocoanut Avenue will begin. The festivities at MLK Park will include vendors, music and a health fair.
Among the acts performing are Greater Beyond Measure, Soul Sensations, Ronnie Phelps, and Trinity Churches. The MC will be Jessica Ward. Community activist Grimes explained why a health fair will be included.
IK: So what are you trying to accomplish with the Health Fair?
JG: Well, you know, disparities in our communities. There’s a lot of health disparities, and we have been bringing the health corporations, the vendors, to participate, to maybe get the word out that they’re here to help them go through that disparity in our community.
IK: And will there be people like taking blood pressure or that sort of thing?
JG: Right, they do — PSAs, blood, prostate exams, the whole works, all of that is going to be a part of it.
IK: In addition to the events previously mentioned, there will also be a celebration of Martin Luther King Jr at Temple Emmanuel at 151 McIntosh Road at 2 pm on Monday, Jan. 20. It was part of Dr. King’s mission to reach out to other organizations and religious groups.
More information about the event can be found here.
Reporting for WSLR News, Ishmael Katz.
WSLR News aims to keep the local community informed with our 1/2 hour local news show, quarterly newspaper and social media feeds. The local news broadcast airs on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6pm.