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Martin Luther King Day Commemoration and Remembrance Jan. 21

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Martin Luther King

Cambridge’s Annual MLK Day Commemoration and Remembrance
Monday, January 21, 2019 • 11:00 AM
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Central Sq., Cambridge


In this time of renewed focus on the challenges of sexism, racism, xenophobia, fear, and threats of violence – and on action for peace, justice, and equality – please join us as we remember and celebrate the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

* 11:00 AM to 12:45 PM:  Celebration of Dr. King’s Life and Work for Peace, Justice, and Transformation • inside St. Peter’s Episcopal Church • 838 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
* 12:45 to 1:45 PM:  Lunch and Gathering at the Church • In the undercroft (basement) at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church • 838 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge

In 1967, Martin Luther King described what he saw as the most serious challenge for our society. In his words, “We must rapidly begin the shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.” More than fifty years later, the United States still faces these three existential challenges to our values as a nation.

The City of Cambridge will honor and remember Dr. King and his legacy, as we gather at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church to hear members of the Cambridge community share readings of Dr. King’s words calling for peace, justice and transformation, as well as musical performances by Véronique Epiter, Christina DeVaughn and members of Cambridge's Episcopal churches. We will also feature remarks by Ellen Semonoff, Assistant City Manager for Human Services for the City of Cambridge.

Ellen Semonoff
has served as Assistant City Manager for Human Services for the City of Cambridge since 2004, where she provides leadership and day-to-day management of the Department of Human Service Programs, which includes a wide array of programs. Ms. Semonoff also serves on the Board of the Cambridge Health Alliance, a public safety net hospital and teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. In 2014, President Obama appointed her to his Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health. She spent several years in Washington D.C., serving as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, Joseph A. Califano and as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. She holds a B.A. from Brandeis University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

In addition to the Peace Commission’s Commemoration and Remembrance at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, once again Many Helping Hands will sponsor volunteer activities for its Day of Service from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at City Hall, St. Peter’s, the YWCA, the Senior Center and other sites. 

For directions to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, located at 838 Massachusetts Ave. at the corner of Sellers St. in Central Square, please, visit www.saintpeterscambridge.org

The program is free, open to all, and wheelchair accessible. More information is available at www.cambridgema.gov/peace. 
For directions to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, located in Central Square at 838 Massachusetts Ave. at the corner of Sellers St., please, visit www.saintpeterscambridge.org/map-mbta-directions/

Page was posted on 12/20/2018 4:19 PM
Page was last modified on 7/25/2023 3:24 AM
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