Friendly Events Planned in Chester for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Committee of Chester has planned a range of events to celebrate the legacy of the civil rights leader. Members of the community are invited to take part in a range of activities:

• Jan. 20, 4 to 7 p.m., Yes We Can Achievement and Cultural Center (YWCACC), 4 E. 7^th Street in Chester. The YWCACC and Tau Delta Omega Chapter will host a Sunday Supper and Movie event. This fun event will include food, conversations, games, prayer and a presentation of the film “Half the Sky.” Reservations are encouraged; call (610) 876-2222.

• Jan. 21, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Yes We Can Achievement and Cultural Center(YWCACC), 4 E. 7^th Street in Chester: A range of free activities will be available for people of all ages, including:
• Creation of personalized T-shirts.
• Stuffing of bags filled with personal care items for area needy.
• Collaborative art project: Led by representatives from the Community Arts Center of Wallingford, children and adults will color individual quilt squares that we will assemble on the wall in a collaborative design celebrating King’s connection to Chester.
• Presentations about safe medication use, financial management and gun violence prevention.
• Quilting, bib-making and dress-making for people in Haiti (sewing experience needed).
• Collection and sorting of books to benefit incarcerated veterans (co-sponsored byWidener University and
• Live musical performances.
• Zumba workouts 

• Jan. 21, 1 to 4 p.m.., Yes We Can Achievement and Cultural Center (YWCACC), 4 E. 7^th Street in Chester: Children can enjoy a special “King’s camp” filled with a variety of fun activities, including a virtual tour of Chester, a movie, crafts, museum tour, snacks and more. Cost is $2.

• Jan. 21, 1:30 p.m., Old Main Building at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, One Medical Center Boulevard, Upland: A wreath will be laid in front of the site of the former Crozer Theological Seminary, where Dr. King earned his Bachelor of Divinity in 1951. Rev. Dr. Bayard Taylor, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (where Dr. King worshipped while he was a student), will deliver brief remarks.

• Jan. 21, 2 to 2:45 p.m., Clark Auditorium at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, One Medical Center Boulevard, Upland: The public is invited to a celebration that will include speeches and musical performances.

• 6:30 p.m., Alumni Auditorium, Widener University, 14^th and Walnut Streets: Widener’s annual commemoration of Dr. King’s life, sponsored by the University’s Black Student Union. The program will include reflections from members of the Widener community about the significance of  King's life and work.

Since 1994, the Martin Luther King Commemorative Committee of Chester has worked to honor the memory and legacy of Dr. King in Chester, where Dr. King studied and preached before emerging as a civil rights leader on the national scene. As such, this holiday has always had a special meaning forChester residents. In fact, it was the first community in Southeastern Pennsylvania to have a day of service on the holiday honoring Dr. King.    Organizations involved in the planning and funding of the events include the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey in Delaware County,Widener University, the Chester YWCA, the Community Arts Center, Swarthmore College, EasternUniversity and Crozer-Chester Medical Center.

For more information about events at the YWCACC, call (610) 876-2222.

For more information about Widener’s participation and the evening event at the University, contact Marcine Pickron-Davis at (610) 499-4566.

For more information about the event at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, contact Grant Gegwich at (610) 447-6316.