MLK 2023: Building a Beloved Community
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” –Martin Luther King Jr.
The annual MLK assembly is an event that the Student Equity Council looks forward to and works hard on every year.
This year’s theme is Make (Y)our Mark: Building a Beloved Community. Students presented artistic acts in service of peace including violin, trumpet, poetry, step dancing, and more. There was even a guest group this year, the University of Washington Step Dancers, who shared a piece with the community as well.
“I’m excited that we’re bringing a lot of art into it this year. I feel like art is such a powerful way to express peace and freedom,” says Lucia V. (’26)
“I think it’s really impactful to have the audience see their classmates performing and doing things they don’t normally do,” says Mahi M. (’25)
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke out against three evils: racism, poverty, and militarism. The students decided to focus on the anti-war teachings of Dr. King this year, acknowledging the multiple wars happening around the world. To that end, this year’s keynote speaker was John Hunter, former teacher and inventor of the World Peace Game.
As Hunter addressed the students and shared more about his work, he acknowledged first and foremost that, “the reason the world peace games are so successful, is that everything went wrong.” He went on to apologize to the student's generation for leaving them a world with so much struggle. But, in the midst of that, he left them with hope and encouragement that they are incredibly capable and can be a part of a peaceful change in the world.
“Change starts with someone. Maybe one of you,” Hunter says. “Start where you are. Use what you have. And do what you can.”
As students and adults leave the MLK assembly the Equity Council hopes that every student and adult will realize that they have power and influence and their efforts towards peace matter.
Sophomore Muadh C. says, “This assembly gives them (students) a chance to acknowledge that they play a part in this and they can do a lot of great work if they put their mind to it.”
Lucia V. says, “Peace is a collaborative process. It has to be every single one of us."
“I really hope that from this presentation people go out and fight for peace,” says Freshman Mangai S. “I hope that people realize that talking about peace is one thing, but that they are open to go and make change in the world.”
Enjoy a slideshow of pictures from the event here.