Published: April 23, 2008 11:52 am      

Colleges keeping King's legacy alive

CUMBERLAND - This area, Robin Wynder said, is a wonderful place to live and is full of diversity.

But it doesn't mean that people don't hurt others by their actions or words.

CommUnity - Keeping the Dream Alive is one way to educate people from all generations and to spread the word of Martin Luther King Jr. Wynder, of Frostburg State University, and Gretchen Perry of Allegany College of Maryland, are spearheading the event that's been in the works since last year. They spoke to the Rotary Club of Cumberland on Tuesday.

The family-friendly day is the culminating event to A Celebration of The Life & Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a nearly three-month project to raise awareness of King's legacy. In addition to the colleges, a number of community partners have made the celebration possible.

"A lot of times, people just aren't aware of other people's experiences and perspectives," Wynder said. "They don't realize the impact their actions or words can have. Most people are good at heart, but if they see things from a narrow point of view, they don't understand."

When people gather and listen to each other, though, it's possible to "alter some of their behaviors."

Perry said the May 4 event will begin at 1 p.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Washington Street where the Rev. Alfred Deas will read part of King's "I've Been To the Mountaintop" speech. As King's last speech, it was delivered in support of sanitation workers in Memphis, Tenn., on April 3, 1968, the day before he was assassinated.

The speech's relevance to today and the community will be discussed.

From there, a march symbolic of King's last one will continue to the city's Town Centre where Shannon and Kenny Watkins will lead the crowd in freedom songs. Magpie also will perform.

Perry said activities, including a storytelling session for children downtown and tunnel tours at Emmanuel, will begin at 2:30 p.m.

If it rains, all activities will be held at Emmanuel.

"We're asking for your support," Perry told Rotarians. "We don't need money, but we do need people to get involved and have people show up."

Wynder said when plans began, no one could have predicted that racial tensions at Fort Hill High School would come to light. Such discussions were enough for the group to "rethink the appropriateness" of the event.

Indeed, members determined, it is an appropriate and much-needed event. It's also one where she hopes parents bring their children.

People her age and older are aware of King, she said, but "youth today have no concept what it's all about."

"We want them to realize it is still relevant today and that we can continue to make his dream come to fruition," Wynder said.

The programs were made possible through a grant written by ACM from the Maryland Humanities Council with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

For more information, visit www.allegany.edu/mlkgrant.

Contact Maria Smith at msmith@times-news.com.