The annual tradition, which started in recent years, sees hundreds of residents, Lakota students, school and political officials and local government and community representatives celebrate the unifying message of the holiday by walking across the Liberty way roadway border of the two townships and through and around the Liberty Center streets in Liberty Twp.
Lakota officials’ recent statement noted: “The West Chester Liberty community is invited to attend the 26th annual “Live the Dream: Our Declaration of Unity” community-wide celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.” followed by an event to honor this year’s student winners of an essay contest.
“The program will recognize this year’s student contest winners and follows the one-mile community march,” said school officials.
“This year’s ‘You Choose’ contest theme challenged students to choose one of Dr. King’s lesser-known speeches, sermons or readings - anything other than his most famous Mountain Top speech. Students were asked to reflect on all or part of the piece and how it personally impacts them.”
“The entire community is invited to gather at the southwest corner of the Floor & Decor store parking lot at 7250 Cabela Drive in West Chester - at the intersection of Tylers Place Blvd. and Cabela Drive at 9:30 a.m.
Participants will then proceed across Liberty Way and into the streets of Liberty Center ending their march at Liberty Center’s Sabin Hall, where the community program will begin at approximately 10 a.m.
“All winning essays, skits, songs, artwork or videos will be recognized during the program, also complete with a keynote address and live music from a community choir. A video series produced by West Chester Township’s multimedia team and to be released in the weeks following MLK Day shares each winning entry,” said school officials.
This year’s grand prize essay winner is Quentin Smith, an 8th grader from Hopewell Junior School, who won for writing “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence.”
The fine arts grand prize winner is Cherokee Elementary 4th grader Kristian Mudd for her “Life’s Blueprint” work.
See the Lakota Schools’ website for information on other Lakota student prize winners from the elementary, junior school and high school categories.
About the Author