Unity serves as theme for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration in Lee’s Summit
Lee’s Summit’s long-standing tradition of uniting to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day continued Monday as nearly 350 attendees came together for the city’s 22nd annual celebration honoring the slain civil right leader’s life, legacy, and message.
The theme of this year’s event, which took place at the John Knox Village Pavilion and was presented by the City of Lee’s Summit Human Relations Commission and the Celebration Committee, was “United in the Journey.”
“There are many obstacles involved in a journey,” said Pastor Dale Beasley, chairperson of the Human Relations Commission and chair of Celebration Committee. “Uncertainty, detours, road bumps, and distractions. Martin Luther King was on a journey and faced those obstacles. Lee’s Summit and the United States also face those obstacles.
“Being united on the journey helps us deal with those obstacles. That’s where we get our strength, regardless of race or creed. If we come together to embrace the journey, we can accomplish so much.”
The program also included Lee’s Summit police officer Nathan Cantrell singing of the national anthem and a welcome from Mayor Randy Rhoads. New Lee’s Summit R-7 School District Superintendent Dr. Dennis Carpenter delivered the keynote speech.
The music-filled evening also featured performances by the Lee’s Summit High School Choir, the Pleasant Lea Elementary School Choir, the MLK Community Mass Choir, and the Lee’s Summit R-7 Faculty Quintet.
The event kicked off with a pre-show at which attendees had the opportunity to visit various community resources and organizations, including a booth hosted by the Kansas City Ethnic Enrichment Festival.
“Martin Luther King gave us hope and his words are more powerful today than ever,” said Paul Ceesay, Enrichment Festival organizer. “He talked about bringing us together. Imagine what life would be like if all of the pieces were put together.”
For more than two decades, Lee’s Summit’s citizens and leaders have undertaken a journey to create an inclusive, united community for all residents. The annual Martin Luther King Day celebration is key in that work and journey for this exceptionally internationally diverse city.
“Once a year, we come together here,” Rhoads said. “This event gives us a chance to see how far we’ve come. It also helps us to see how much more needs to be done.”
Carpenter’s remarks reflected Rhoads’ observations. He also acknowledged accomplishments toward equality, but, like Rhoads, recognized that more needs to be done on the journey to achieve unity.
“When we’re united, we lose the right to judge and we automatically begin to respect those with whom we are united,” Carpenter said. “On this journey, we might experience discomfort but there is still work to do. King wrote, ‘We must learn live together as brothers or perish together as fools.’”
When writing his speech, Carpenter said he asked himself, “If King were here today, what advice would he give us as we navigate this journey and our journey in Lee’s Summit?”
“He would tell us to keep moving,” Carpenter said. “He would say, ‘Don’t stop now, don’t sit down. We must keep moving and bring out the blazing stars of inspiration.’”
This story was originally published January 16, 2018 at 3:36 PM with the headline "Unity serves as theme for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration in Lee’s Summit."