All events are free and open to the public, thanks to our generous sponsors and community members!
Friday, January 12
9th Annual Dr. King Challenge
5:30 p.m.
Holiday Inn
232 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY
Free; Donations Appreciated!
More Music, More Beloved Community! Hosted by MLK Saratoga and curated by the Capital Region’s DJ Hollyw8d, featuring several performing artists.
Reception, food, cash bar, fun art projects for kids, face painting, Photo Booth, dancing, and more! Family Friendly.
Saturday, January 13
Sing a Song of Gladness
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Unitarian Universalist House
624 N Broadway, Saratoga Springs
A sing-along for all ages; join folksinger Dan Berggren, the Division Street School Song Writers Club, and the Rev. Joe Cleveland from the Unitarian Congregation for a sing-along of songs about love, peace, justice and community!
Yaddo Presents: Vision Portraits, with Filmmaker Rodney Evans
5-7:30 p.m.
Nancy DiCresce Room, The Pines, Saratoga Performing Arts Center
108 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs
Reservations Required: Free*
- ENTER SPAC THROUGH THE HALL OF SPRINGS GATE -
In partnership with MLK Saratoga and Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Yaddo presents a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy with a film screening of Vision Portraits by Yaddo artist and award-winning filmmaker Rodney Evans. This event offers audience members an opportunity to shift their perspective by participating in a film experience with augmented glasses and open-audio description.
Vision Portraits is a feature-length documentary that chronicles the creative paths of blind and low vision artists including a photographer (John Dugdale), dancer (Kayla Hamilton), writer (Ryan Knighton) and the film’s director, Rodney Evans. A tantalizing meditation on blindness and creativity opening minds to new possibilities for facing vision loss.
Rodney Evans is an award-winning filmmaker and writer/director of the groundbreaking 2004 feature film, Brother to Brother (Sundance-Special Jury Prize in Drama) starring Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker).
Beloved Community PArty
7-11 p.m.
Frederick Allen Lodge
69 Beekman St, Saratoga Springs
Come join your friends and neighbors at a rocking and joyful night of community and dancing at the Frederick Allen Lodge, Saratoga Springs’ “Heart of Soul.” Food, cash bar, and live music from Out of the Box.
Sponsored by Presbyterian United Church of Christ.
Sunday, January 14th
Introduction to Restorative practices
For Youth and Adults
1-3:30 p.m.
Dutcher Room, Saratoga Springs Public Library
49 Henry St
An interactive program to learn about and experience restorative practices - what they are, how they are used, and local efforts to integrate restorative values and practices in our community.
Panel discussion, interactive exhibits with adults and youth who use restorative practices in various settings, community building games, talking circles and snacks!
Youth and adults are encouraged to attend and participate!
Hosted by Camp Stomping Ground, Saratoga Educational Equity Network, and MLK Saratoga
Monday, January 15: Morning
MLK Day of service
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Saratoga Springs Public Library
49 Henry St, Saratoga Springs
In the Community Room:
Pet food drive and blanket making to help pets in local shelters; sponsored by Saratoga Central Catholic Community Service Club
Food drive and grocery gift card drive; sponsored by Saratoga Pride
Change Rocks! Donate your loose change: even giving a single penny earns a rock to decorate with a positive message or image. Keep it or give it away to brighten someones’s Day! Not feeling creative? Finished rocks will also be available for a $1 donation. Donations will be given to a local organization in need; presented by Girl Scout Troop 3301
In the Children’s Room:
Make cards to help brighten the day of local nursing home and hospital patients; sponsored by the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs
Listen to a story read by a student from Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs
In the Susman Room:
”MoonBee”: join the MoonCatcher Project to make reusable, washable menstrual management kits for distribution to girls around the world
In the Glasby Room:
Creating Spaces and Faces: Community Collage with CREATE Community Studios, Francelise Dawkins and Royal Brown. A continuation of the community art-making projects within Erasing Spaces and Faces: The Legacy of Urban Renewal in Saratoga Springs.
Using archival photographs from the city’s urban renewal historical archive, participants learn about its history in Saratoga and will collage with various materials onto large banners of the printed black and white photos. Inspired by the work of Bisa Butler, Francelise Dawkins and Royal Brown. Francelise and Royal will guide us through their artistic processes to create these community collages together. Works of art will be reprinted onto weather proof banners and installed along Congress Street in Spring of 2024.
Appropriate for ages 13+
At Temple Sinai
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
509 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
Children’s Book Drive: please drop off new or gently-used children’s books
At Camp stomping ground
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
3430 Boyhaven Rd
Middle Grove, NY 12850
Camp Stomping ground invites volunteers of all ages to help with trail maintenance/clean up on their beautiful campus.
Bundle up! Hot chocolate will be available as well as a place to warm up. We encourage you to bring warm clothes, boots and gloves.
Weather permitting: if there is too much snow on the ground or if it is below 20 we will reconsider plan.
No need to register.
Can’t make it to the Day of Service? No worries! Here are some ongoing service opportunities in our community.
SONGS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
12-1 p.m.
Community Room at the Saratoga Springs Public Library
49 Henry St, Saratoga Springs
A free concert featuring Annie and Jonny Rosen and Peter Davis from the band “Annie and the Hedonists” performing songs of the civil rights and labor movements that arose from the struggle for social change in the fight against injustice, exploitation and inequality in the United States. Come join us and sing along! It’s not only singing to remember this important history, but we sing to engender hope for the future. Song history and introductions orchestrated by YouthSquared.
Presented by the young voices of Youth Squared - Youth Helping Youth, Camp Stomping Ground and Saratoga Youth Safe Space.
Monday, January 15: Afternoon
Community Celebration
Move For Change, Healing, and Advocacy
2-4 p.m.
United Methodist Church
175 5th Ave, Saratoga Springs
Hosted by our favorite Soulist, Garland Nelson, our Community Celebration will feature an inspiring and energizing keynote by Hettie Barnhill, filmmaker, artist, activist, dancer, and educator.
Move for Change, Healing, and Advocacy
Hettie Barnhill will speak about the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., weaving together narrative, movement, and video presentations. Barnhill will illuminate the profound intersection of purposeful activism and the pivotal role that movement plays as the catalyst for self-discovery, resilience, and advocacy. Join us for an inspiring exploration of Dr. King's timeless teachings and their resonance in our collective journey towards positive change, healing, and effective advocacy.
Please join us for refreshments and fellowship following the program.
Hettie Barnhill is a Broadway actress, a director, a choreographer, and the founder of ‘Create A Space NOW’ an interactive social justice platform that uses performing arts and multimedia to further discussion around #blacklivesmatter and the recent events and race relations in America. Her film, A Love Letter to Brian, Lesley, and Michelle, has been selected and awarded in festivals currently showing nationally and internationally and honored by the California Senate with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, "Using Film as a Vehicle For Community Engagement and Education" by Congressman Ro Khanna and California Senator Bob Wieckowski.
Using art as therapy, Hettie has received awards for her outreach and service in communities, including The NAACP's "Top 21 Leaders 40 & Under Award" In The Fields Of Arts & Culture, Twice Honored As A "Rising Star" By The Young & Powerful For Obama Group, The Shirley Chisholm "Women Of Excellence." Since 2006, Hettie has worked with A Long Walk Home Inc., a nonprofit organization that uses art therapy and the visual and performing arts to document, educate and bring about social change for survivors of rape and violence.
All events are free and open to the public, thanks to our generous sponsors and community members!