2014 Arkansas MLK Events: A Time for Celebration

The Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission is planning for a busy
January 2014, with multiple events designed to celebrate the birthday of
the slain civil rights leader.

On Dec. 16, DuShun Scarbrough, executive director of the Arkansas Martin
Luther King, Jr. Commission was interviewed by TheVillage Celebration
about these events while on the road. He and Walter L. Washington, the
commission’s business operations specialist, were headed to the
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff where Scarbrough was to appear on
a talk show, UAPB Currents, on UAPB-TV.

The purpose of the AMLKC, the men said, is to promote racial harmony,
understanding, community service, respect and goodwill among all
citizens; promote the principles of nonviolence; promote awareness and
appreciation of the Civil Rights movement and advocacy of the principles
and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and develop, coordinate, and
advise the governor and General Assembly of ceremonies and activities
throughout the state relating to the observance of the Dr. King holiday.

Scarbrough, who became executive director in March of 2008, said he
believes initial goals to establish a vision and new guidelines for the
commission have been reached.

“We have 13 commissioners throughout the state,” he said. “We are
just maintaining the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and promoting
his tenets throughout the year … [rather] than just in the month of
January or Black History Month.” And, he added, “you’ve got to
have programs throughout the state of Arkansas and keep things going to
acknowledge and remarket the agency.”

King’s Holiday is on Jan, 20, but AMLKC kicks off its events on Jan. 15
with a 12-1 p.m. Birthday Bash at Daisy Bates Elementary School  in
Little Rock. “We are going to use that as a ‘springboard’ to start off
other programs,” Scarbrough says.

These include programs on Jan. 19, 5-7 p.m. at St. James United
Methodist Church in Pine Bluff. Scarbrough said the commission
collaborated with the church to bring in a celebration of worship as
well as a Youth Empowerment Summit. The worship celebration is an
opportunity for individuals from different denominations and races to
fellowship.

“We want to target and energize our youth in [the] summit in Pine
Bluff,” Scarbrough said. “We also want to empower them to make a
positive change and [stand up] against violence.” Special guest will
be Kel Mitchell from Nickelodeon’s Good Burger and All That. “We
chose him because of his energy and his recognition with generations
that have watched him on television.”

On Jan. 20, the commission will head to North Little Rock for a prayer
breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m. at Shorter College Gymnasium, 604 Locust St.

“This prayer breakfast is a program that I established when I was
coming to the area to work for the agency,” Scarbrough said. “It’s
not only to recognize the holiday, but also [to allow participants] to
show their unity through MLK’s legacy.” Special guest speaker will
be Rabbi Kalman Winnick of Congregation Agudath Achim in Little
Rock.

That same day, Scarbrough and his crew will return to Pine Bluff at 11
a.m.-1:30 p.m. to kick off the commission’s big celebration, A Day of
Service – A Day on, Not a Day Off, at the Pine Bluff Convention
Center. Featured speaker is Isaac Farris, Dr. MLK’s nephew and former
head of the King Center in Atlanta. “It will be a monumental
occasion,” Scarbrough says, recalling King’s 1958 visit to Pine
Bluff.

Also on Jan. 20, the commission comes to the Boys and Girls Club in
Jacksonville for a MLK Community Empowerment Summit and Carnival,
slated for 2-5 p.m.

“It’s a day of giving and it is going to be a long day,” Scarbrough
acknowledges. “The great thing about it is that it has already been
pre-planned … . My team and volunteers are what makes it happen.”

Among Scarbrough’s team members is his right-hand man. Washington, who
handles much of the fiscal and accounting controls for the agency, was
himself a board commissioner from 2002-2004. “In 2008, I was blessed
with the opportunity of meeting … Scarbrough,” Washington stated. “I
thought [he] was highly energetic and compassionate about what he
does.”

Scarbrough was just as complimentary about Washington. “I saw his
volunteerism and said [to myself], ‘This is someone I want on my
team,’” Scarbrough recalled. “You got to love what you do with
this type of job … and Walter did!”