by Paul Bass The New Haven independent
Calm, deliberate conversations will take place face to face about banned books, youth empowerment, voting rights, and Black librarianship .
Those are among the new features planned this year as the Peabody Museum readies its annual community-wide “Day of Service and Celebration” event Monday in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.
Dozens of grassroots groups work with the Peabody to stage the event each year, inviting New Haveners of all ages into the free-admission museum to engage in cultural activities together in the spirit of the late civil rights leader’s legacy.
In addition to the above-mentioned changes this year, the biggest draws are what has remained constant in the annual event over three decades. Starting at noon, pop-up musicial performances, many by New Haven public school kids, will take place throughout the museum. Hands-on arts and crafts and other activities will be ongoing. And of course a chance to explore the museum’s treasures. A community open mic takes place from 4 to 4:45 p.m. followed by the crescendo of the poetry slam.
Asked about how this all fits in with the holiday, Peabody Education Director Andrea Motto quoted King: “Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.”
“Just being around people who live that every day, learning from them, seeing how their work manifests, just having good vibes around people who are coming together to do interesting things at the museum or in whatever space that happens — I think that’s a nice thing for us,” Motto said during a preview conversation Thursday on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven” program.
Click here for more information about the event and about the Peabody.
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