Organizers plan new approach to MLK Day celebration

YAKIMA, Wash. -- For Yakima's 28th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations on Monday, the organizing committee has invited four community leaders to speak, a shift from the past tradition of one keynote speaker.

"I thought it was good to have different perspectives," said Steve Mitchell, chief executive at Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) and co-chair of this year's organizing committee. This year's theme is "Share the Dream."

The speakers for Monday's main event are Rev. Robert Trimble, pastor for Mt. Hope Baptist Church and a key advocate responsible for getting a street in Yakima named after Martin Luther King Jr.; Erin Black, director of the YWCA; Elaine Beraza, superintendent of Yakima School District; and Tony Allen, an assistant principal at two Yakima elementary schools.

"I think we have a chance to recognize some people who made a significant contributions to this community in the area of civil rights and fairness for all people," Mitchell said.

The day has a strong history in Yakima. When Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday was declared a national holiday in 1984, former OIC director Henry Beauchamp was the first member of a celebration coordinating committee chosen by the governor.

About 1,200 attended last year's event in Yakima.

Since the first celebration in 1985, the local committee has chosen community speakers who have similar ideals to King, said Ester Huey, former operations director at OIC.

The celebrations include two main gatherings: A church service at 3 p.m. Sunday and the peace march and speeches Monday afternoon.

Huey feels King's ideals as the foundation of the civil rights movement opened the door for all groups seeking equality.

"I believe that anyone who is struggling for their equal rights, this is for them," she said. "I believe in diversity; if one benefits, all should benefit."

People are invited to start assembling for Yakima's peace march at 11 a.m. at the Dollar Store on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Fifth Avenue. The march starts at noon, going down MLK and turning right on Eighth Street to go to the Yakima Convention Center, where the speeches and program will take place.

A celebration is also planned in Toppenish for the second consecutive year. Organizers include representatives from the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic Community HealthCorps, the Northwest Community Action Center, Toppenish Safe Haven, Toppenish School District, and the AmeriCorps Child Vision project.

Community members are invited to assemble for a peace march at the Toppenish Market Place grocery store at 512 W. First Ave. at 10 a.m.. The march will begin at 10:30 and go to Toppenish Middle School, where presentations and speeches will begin at 11:15 a.m.

Coordinator Rosa Ortiz from the Community HealthCorps said that 250 people would fit in the cafeteria, and they're hoping for 250 to 300. They've been making the rounds in schools, encouraging kids to get involved as part of this year's theme: "Uniting people through service."

"We're focusing on the youth and trying to motivate them to serve their community so they can make it a better place to live," Ortiz said. "It was a positive event last year, and we definitely want to do it again."

MLK week of events

* Through Friday -- MLK food drive

* Friday-Sunday -- MLK "Share the Dream" basketball tournament (OIC and Yakima School District gymnasiums)

* Sunday -- 28th annual community church service, 3 p.m., Greater Faith Baptist Church at 816 S. Sixth St.

* Monday -- 28th annual MLK Day Peace Walk and Program, noon, beginning at North Sixth Avenue and MLK Boulevard

* Monday -- 6th annual MLK Day soup kitchen, 2 p.m. at Southeast Community Center at 1211 S. Seventh St.