Motherlode Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration
Date/Time
Date(s) - 01/18/2025
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location
Sonora High School Auditorium
Categories
For the first time in 30 years, the Motherlode Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee is switching its annual celebration of Dr. King’s birthday from Sunday to Saturday. The public is invited to this free program at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 18, at Sonora High School Auditorium, located at the corner of Washington St. and Shaw’s Flat Road in Sonora.
Dr. King dreamed of the Beloved Community—a society where justice, equality, and love prevail, and all are welcomed. This vision motivates us to examine our unconscious biases and how addressing them can foster inclusion and a shared sense of purpose.
The 2025 theme, “From Bias to Belonging: Nurturing Dr. King’s Vision of Community” will be explored by keynote speaker, Dr. Nikum Pon. Born in Cambodia during the time of the “killing fields,” Dr. Pon’s family defied incredible odds to escape to the U.S. when he was a child. He has since dedicated his life to empowering underserved communities, recently returning to Cambodia to establish schools for those in need.
The celebration will also include performances by the Sierra Waldorf Community Choir directed by Carol Weston Crich and accompanied by pianist Mark Seiver. Their uplifting music echoes the spirit of unity and hope central to Dr. King’s message. Community activist Jenn Salazar has been selected to receive The Laurie Bailey Social Justice award for her outstanding work advocating for the unhoused.
The 90-minute program will be followed by a reception with refreshments in the school library. The audience is invited to join the speaker and performers there.
The MLK Committee has presented annual programs, wholly supported by local donations, since 1996 in support of Dr. King’s stand on poverty, bias and social justice.
For more information, message the Motherlode MLK Committee on facebook@mmlkcommittee.com.
