Astoria celebrates MLK Day with ‘Hands of Peace’

Published 6:03 am Thursday, January 17, 2008

AmeriCorps Oregon presents “Hands of Peace,” a Martin Luther King Jr. Day community celebration from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21, at Astoria High School Commons, 1001 W. Marine Drive. The purpose is to raise cultural awareness, present the power of peace and encourage attendees to get involved in their communities.

The event will include refreshments, a nonprofit organizations bazaar, guest speakers, a visual art show and oral art presentations, and will be followed by a brief candlelight vigil.

Local nonprofit organizations will participate from 6 to 6:30 p.m. with information booths to demonstrate their impact on the community. The bazaar will allow community members to learn about and become involved with local nonprofits.

Lane DeMoll, a community activist known for her work in sustainability, will speak from 6:30 to 6:50 p.m. DeMoll helped develop Rain magazine and Cart’M Recycling, and has lately been involved in setting up NeahCasa, a community housing trust, and Fulcrum Community Resources, an organization to foster other local sustainability projects.

Peggy Ross, a 30-year advocate to and for people of color, women and disadvantaged businesses, will speak from 6:50 to 7:10 p.m. Ross has extensive experience working to promote diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace. Her primary objective has been cultural/climate assessment and training large corporations, nonprofits and government entities about diversity relations.

Following the guest speakers, oral presentations will be performed by artists chosen from the public. Poetry, music and acting will be a few of the performances.

For more information, contact Emily Fenwick at (503) 325-7275 or elfenwick@gmail.com