FOCUS: King Day events in Charleston to continue Jan. 17

Staff reports  | While area churches held services commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy on Sunday, community events and celebrations get started in earnest Thursday, Jan. 17, with the MLK Racial Equity Institute.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivering a speech.

The nationally-recognized sessions will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 at the College of Charleston’s North Charleston campus, 3800 Paramount Drive, just off Interstate 526.  Leaders and others who attend will work to understand institutional racism and will ““come away with dramatically changed worldviews,” according to YWCA Greater Charleston.  Learn more.

Throughout the week, an estimated 30,000 people will be impacted by celebrations on Dr. King’s legacy.  The YWCA’s inaugural event in 1972 — 42 years ago — was one of the first national tributes of its kind.  Other events scheduled for this week include:

• MLK Youth Poetry Slam:  2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, Charleston County Public Library, 68 Calhoun St., Charleston. Aspiring poets are encouragecd to participate as Marcus Amaker, the city of Charleston’s poet laureate emcees the event. Learn more.

• MLK Ecumenical Service: 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, Morris Street Baptist Church, Charleston.  Bishop Samuel L. Green, Sr., presiding bishop of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, will be keynote speaker at an ecumenical service for the whole community to commemorate King’s life and work.

• MLK Parade:  10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 21, in downtown Charleston. Thousands will watch more than 100 bands, floats and groups march through downtown.  The parade route will run from Burke High School along Fishburne Street north to Sumter Street, east along Sumter Street to King Street, and then south to Marion Square, turning east onto Calhoun Street. More details.

• MLK Breakfast:  7 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, Charleston Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun St., Charleston.  Some 700 people will gather for this sold-out event. The event will feature businesswoman Cynthia Bramlett Thompson, vice-chair of the board of Spoleto Festival USA, as keynote speaker and Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg as honorary chairman. More info.

• • To learn more about the week of festivities, visit YWCA Greater Charleston.

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