Martin Luther King Day Brings Celebrations and Helping Hands

Portland, January 19th, 2015. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service brought a record number of volunteers to Oregon Food Bank food warehouse centers in Portland and Beaverton. Nearly 300 volunteers repacked a total of 68,499 lbs of rice and apples during the morning shift alone. Bank of America sponsored the day’s repack and provided the financial support to purchase the food that was processed during the day.

MLK day was marked at many events. The Portland-based World Arts Foundation, Inc. celebrated the 30th Anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday & National Holiday. World Arts Foundation, Inc. has been honoring King for 30 years with its “Keep Alive the Dream” tribute. For more information about the nonprofit, visit World Arts Foundation, Inc.

World Arts has also produced the Timesound Ensemble, a vocal musical ensemble blending a variety of youthful musicians, Youthsound Stageband & Gospel Choir; a historical Dr. Martin Luther King Documentary made for television and After-School Theater workshops for students to supplement or replace important arts programs within public schools.

Here’s a tribute video:

From World Arts Foundation, Inc.

As urban and rural communities become increasingly diverse and home to people representing a wealth of cultural differences, there is increased social pressure, which affects how we live, respond to, and interact with each other.

This impacts our interactions and ability to communicate, whether with children and youth, adults or the elderly.

Nowhere is this point more recognizable than within our public schools where young people struggle each day to recognize, appreciate, learn from, and respect their peers who now reflect a diversity of races, languages, religions, family experiences, and values.

Our work is therefore rooted in a need to develop professional and academic programs that challenge perceptions about “others,” which promote awareness and understanding of ethnic and cultural differences.

World Arts Foundation, Inc. accomplishes this through linkages of schools and their communities in innovative activities.

World Arts Foundation, Inc. has rooted the annual “Keep Alive The Dream” tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a vital and practical tool, which meshes the rich arts, culture, and history of our community.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.