A community-wide observance brings together voices across generations
The Reading Memorial High School Performing Arts Center was filled with reflection, music, student voices, and community unity on Monday as residents, students, and educators gathered to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day program brought together members of the Reading Public Schools, town leadership, faith organizations, and local students for a moving, multi-disciplinary celebration centered on Dr. King’s enduring messages of justice, dignity, and collective responsibility.
The program opened with words of welcome and gratitude, emphasizing the importance of coming together “in a spirit of peace, freedom, and social responsibility.” Organizers highlighted the event as both a celebration of Dr. King’s legacy and a call to continued action within the Reading community.
Throughout the morning, the audience experienced a wide range of artistic and spoken performances. Musical selections, including spirituals and soul-stirring vocal performances, echoed themes of perseverance, resilience, and hope. Student and community musicians were met with enthusiastic applause, reinforcing the role of the arts in amplifying social justice messages.
One of the program’s central moments was the formal reading of Reading’s human rights resolution, reaffirming the town’s commitment to protecting the dignity, safety, and well-being of all residents. The resolution emphasized Reading’s history as a community shaped by immigrants and diversity, and its responsibility to oppose intolerance, welcome newcomers, and uphold human rights regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.
Students played a prominent role throughout the event, participating as performers, speakers, and organizers. Dramatic excerpts and spoken word pieces addressed themes of identity, cultural pride, and resistance to assimilation, drawing connections between historical struggles and present-day experiences.
The celebration also spotlighted ongoing equity and inclusion efforts within the school district. Representatives from district committees highlighted initiatives aimed at fostering belonging, addressing systemic inequities, and continuing the work envisioned by Dr. King and other civil rights leaders.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Robert Bellinger, a scholar of history and psychology whose remarks offered both historical context and contemporary reflection. Speaking to a packed auditorium, Dr. Bellinger urged attendees to move beyond commemorating Dr. King as a historical figure and instead wrestle with the unfinished work of justice.
Referencing Dr. King’s speeches and writings, Dr. Bellinger emphasized ethical leadership, shared humanity, and the responsibility of each generation to “shine” by aligning values with action. He challenged students and adults alike to consider how power, when guided by love and justice, can transform communities.
The program concluded with collective reflection and music, including powerful readings and musical tributes inspired by Dr. King’s words. Attendees joined together in song, underscoring the event’s central theme: that progress toward a beloved community requires participation from everyone.
As the final applause echoed through the Performing Arts Center, organizers thanked students, staff, volunteers, and community partners whose months of collaboration brought the program to life.
The MLK Day celebration at Reading Memorial High School served not only as a tribute to Dr. King’s legacy, but also as a reminder of Reading’s ongoing commitment to dialogue, equity, and shared responsibility—a commitment the community was encouraged to carry forward well beyond the holiday.
Our live-stream of the event can be seen below:
