NEWS

3 ways to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Ames on Monday

Ronna Faaborg
Ames Tribune
Jeff and Peggy Johnson are pictured with a photo of Martin Luther King Jr. Jeff Johnson, president and CEO of the Iowa State Alumni Association, will be the keynote speaker at the MLK Day Celebration at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Ames City Auditorium.

The life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. will be celebrated with a hybrid in-person/online event at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Ames City Auditorium, at 520 Sixth St., on the north side of City Hall. A celebration video is scheduled to begin at 6:15 p.m.

Long-time Ames resident Jeff Johnson will be the keynote speaker. Johnson serves as the Lora and Russ Talbot Endowed Iowa State University Alumni Association president and CEO.

According to a news release, he plans to share the impact Dr. King has had on his work and life.

“We use this time each year to recognize the powerful legacy of Dr. King and learn from his example,” Vanessa Baker-Latimer, the Ames/Story County MLK Celebration Committee chair, said in a statement. “While we celebrate this day and it is a powerful reminder of his teaching, it is our hope that people keep Dr. King’s legacy alive every day.”

Previously scheduled to be held at the Ames Middle School, the program will also include the Ames Human Relations Commission’s presentation of its annual Humanitarian Award in honor of King's birthday.

The event is a collaboration between the city of Ames and the celebration committee.

Face masks and social distancing will be required to attend the event in person, but it will also be available virtually, via Facebook Live @AmesMLKCelebration, or live on YouTube, at “Ames Channel 12.”

The Celebration Committee invites area residents to post photos to its Facebook page, facebook.com/AmesMLKCelebration, of themselves individually or in groups holding a favorite King quote.

A coloring page of Martin Luther King Jr. colored by Leila, a fourth-grader at Meeker Elementary School

Roland-Story students win MLK essay contest

Story County high school students were invited to enter an essay contest reviewing King’s “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” and explaining the need to rediscover MLK’s values.

Sixteen students submitted essays, and the winners were announced Friday. The top three place winners are all seniors at Roland-Story High School.

First place and a $100 gift card was awarded to Nathan Limas for his essay, titled “King’s Golden Rule.” Cade Murphy, with his essay, titled “Martin Luther King Junior’s Message: A Call to Change,” received second place and a $75 gift card. Alex Berends’ essay, “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” received third place and a $50 gift card.

“We want to thank all students from around the county for participating in the contest and encourage all to continue to embrace the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” the committee said in a statement on its website.

All other students received a $25 gift card.

MLK Day planning committee member Wayne Clinton.

Day of Service at the library, free art projects at the Memorial Union

The Ames Public Library and the Iowa State Memorial Union's Workspace also have plans to host activities Monday.

The library is asking for donations of new toothbrushes, toothpaste, body wash, shampoo, conditioner and menstrual products for its Day of Service Project. Items can be dropped off in the lobby.

Also in the lobby, free MLK-themed coloring sheets are available to take home.

From 10 a.m. to noon Monday, volunteers are also needed to help pack the donated supplies into kits, which will be distributed by The Bridge Home, formerly known as the Emergency Residence Project.

The Workspace at the Memorial Union has drop-in crafts available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday. Crafts include freedom quilt squares and MLK coloring pages. Each participant will also receive a Black Lives Matter button.

The crafts are free, all ages are welcome, and the activities can be completed in the studio or can be taken to-go.