Celebrate the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. this weekend through these and other area events:

Friday, January 18th

An Interfaith Dialogue on Resistance
7-9pm at Centre Congregational Church (193 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301)
This is a special event, seeking inspiration from Martin Luther King Day. Visiting presenter The Rev. Bryan Fulwider will recreate the format of his Florida podcast “The Three Wise Guys, Friends Talking Faith” with 3 distinguished local participants.
• Rev. Fulwider will represent a Christian point of view
• Prof. Amer Latif of Marlboro College will represent a Muslim point of view, and
• Jim Levinson, formerly spiritual leader of the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community, will represent a Jewish point of view.
• WWAC Board Member Minister Scott Couper of Brattleboro’s Centre Congregational Church will act as moderator and present the 3 participants with questions regarding King’s vision of resistance. They will answer through the perspectives of their different faiths.

Saturday, January 19th

Third Annual Women’s March-Women’s March on Montpelier
10am-Noon at the Vermont State House (115 State St, Montpelier, VT)
In the wake of the 2018 midterms that propelled an unprecedented wave of women to Congress, Women’s March Vermont announces a Women’s Rally in Montpelier in coordination with sister marches and rallies in cities and communities across the globe. The rally in Montpelier is one of thousands happening on January 19, 2019, commemorating the 2017 Women’s March on Washington.

“We’ve been organizing locally to advocate for the policies that matter to us, and those that impact women’s lives, and we’re flooding the streets in solidarity with our sisters in DC to remind the country that Vermont resists — and this time, we’re coming with an agenda,” says Women’s March Vermont organizer Kristen Vrancken. A number of community leaders are scheduled to speak who see this as an opportunity to engage in a thoughtful dialogue on racial and social justice in Vermont and action steps moving forward.

Featured speakers include Kiah Morris, Dr. Mariko Silver, Dayle Sargeant, Melody Walker Brook, Brenda Churchill, Krista Scruggs,Tabitha Pohl-Moore, Amanda Garces, Sarah Launderville, Caroline Whiddon,Freweyni Adugnia, Beverly Little Thunder and MacKenzie Murdoch along with a musical performance by Patti Casey.

3rd Annual Speak-Out Celebrating the Life and Work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
3:30-5pm at Brooks Memorial Library (224 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301)
Actor David Mills will embark on an engaging, dramatic presentation through the journey of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as he transforms from his early uncertainties about Civil Rights into the iconic figure he became. The program will highlight Dr. King’s, Letter from a Birmingham Jail, I Have a Dream, Promised Land, If I had Sneezed, and Early Days. Mr. Mills’ stirring presentation will take a look at both the public figure and the private man. After the performance, community members of all ages are invited to share poems, speeches, quotations, thoughts and songs in the spirit of Dr. King’s work. The program will conclude with a communal supper of soup and bread. This event is FREE and open to the public through the support of the Friends of Brooks Memorial Library and the Brattleboro Retreat. This venue is wheelchair accessible.

Monday, January 21th

Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Interfaith Service
4pm at Centre Congregational Church (193 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301)

(This service had been planned for Sunday afternoon, but has been postponed in anticipation of bad weather.)

The service honoring the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will include representatives of many faith traditions, Brattleboro Town Manager Peter Elwell, members of Youth4Change, and featured speaker Kiah Morris. The program will also include brief remarks from Nader Hashim, the newly elected state representative from Windham District 4, music from jazz/blues singer Samirah Evans leading a Youth Vocal Trio and accompanied by Franz Robert, and the Choir of the Community led by Peter Amidon. Singers of all ages and abilities are encouraged to come to the church at 2:55 p.m. to rehearse songs for the service.

Several area groups working for racial justice will make short presentations. The 4:00 pm event is free, but a goodwill donation will be taken with proceeds shared between the Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity and the Root Social Justice Center. Following the event will be a spaghetti dinner fundraiser prepared by the interfaith youth: adults $10, children $5. For more info call the Guilford Community Church: 802-257-2776.