a day fit for a king

lift every voice and sing,
till earth and heaven ring,
ring with the harmonies of liberty;

let our rejoicing rise,
high as the listening skies,
let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

These words filled the air of Powers Auditorium saturday night, as a community came together in song, music, dance, and word to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.



Downtown was really packed Saturday: about 7,500 people to watch the YSU basketball game, a couple thousand at the hockey arena, and just as many to watch the MLK celebration choir perform with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra.

The performances included readings by Sonja Williams and her husband, Jay Williams; a breakout violin solo by 13 year old Youngstown city school student, Shannon Lytle; as well as the presentation of the "Strength to Love" awards to four special citizens of the Valley.



The event was one pearl along a string of events this week which included a community pot-luck dinner with speaker at the Rodef Shalom temple; the Bishop's (diocese of youngstown) presentation at the New Bethel Baptist church; a community workshop at the First Presbyterian on empowering local youth; and today's MLK community breakfast. The only main event left is the Diversity Breakfast on 8am on Thursday at YSU, topic to be closing the achievement gap in education.



from today's news:

"The Rev. Lonnie Simon, 82-year-old emeritus pastor at New Bethel, sat up front in a wheelchair, a King photo pin in his lapel. Mr. Simon, pastor for 33 years, proudly recalled marching with King to Montgomery, Ala. in 1965.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-17th, presented Mr. Simon with an ornate hand-carved cane from Africa. Ryan brought the cane, adorned with a giraffe on top, back from a recent trip to Kenya.

Ryan, in his comments to the congregation, focused on the word ethos, which means the characteristic spirit of a culture, era or community as shown in its beliefs and aspirations.

He said King shaped assumptions.

“We contribute to the ethos of our community,” Ryan said. “Ten years from now Youngstown is going to be the comeback city ... They will say it was their attitude.”

lift every voice and sing,
till earth and heaven ring,
ring with the harmonies of liberty;

let our rejoicing rise,
high as the listening skies,
let it resound loud as the rolling sea.