Swain School Hosts Community Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Instead of closing school on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, The Swain School in Salisbury Township opened its doors and honored the slain civil rights leader with a community tribute at the school.

Todd P. Stansbery, head of the school, welcomed a diverse audience that included about 100 students, parents, staff and area residents. It was a full morning of events that included civic and community speakers, performances, discussion and public service projects.

"We honor [King] because he was a visionary, not a celebrity," Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski told the audience. King would have been 82 today.

Directing his comments to the students and young children in the audience, Pawlowski told them, “You’re the next generation. You can take that vision and have the power to change the world. It starts with the little acts of service you are doing here today.”

 Pawlowski added, “I hope more schools begin to treat this day as a day of service.”

Rev. Gregory Edwards of Resurrected Life Community Church, also spoke to the crowd. He described his church at 9th and Turner streets in Allentown as a “dynamic, diverse, inner-city church taking a stand to rebuild an Allentown community.”

Edwards spoke about ways to make King’s “beloved community” a reality. He said it is important to have love for both friends and enemies, to recognize that difference is not deficiency and to take the call to serve others seriously..

“You have to serve,” Edwards said.

“Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere,” he said.  “That people are living under the 8th Street Bridge should disturb us.”

The idea for the day's event began last year as a conversation at The Swain School about the lack of opportunity for families to acknowledge Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday. A committee was formed and a program emerged.

“I think it’s important for us to take the time to reflect on the great service and leadership Martin Luther King Jr. provided us,” said Stansbery.

The event, called "A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: A Day of Remembrance, Celebration and Service," included art projects, music and performances by  Muhlenberg College students, dancer Kadeem Alston-Roman and singer Felix Mayes. In one of the many break-out discussions held that morning, kindergarten teacher Kelley Stout told a group gathered in the library, "You’re just as good as anybody.” Older students gathered to watch a video of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

A group of adults that had gathered informally found themselves discussing questions posed to the middle school students, including one on how much progress our nation had made toward King's dream.

“We ran out of time,” said Julia Getty, a Swain parent and teacher. “I think we all hope to extend this conversation in the near future.”

Before the event concluded, everyone pitched in to sort donated items for charities. Packs of  Crayons donated by Crayola were assembled for the Boys and Girls Club of Allentown. Apples, oranges, grain bars and other healthful items donated by members of the Resurrected Life Community Church were packed into individual snack bags for the after-school program of the Sixth Street Shelter for homeless families.

And, in honor of King's birthday, items donated for birthday party kits, such as cake mixes, frosting, candles and decorations, were bundled for the Northampton Area Food Bank. Small games and toys were assembled for the Allentown Health Bureau to be given to children who receive immunizations in its clinics.