2023 Hispanic Heritage Festival- Event Recap

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center Events ,

On Saturday, October 7, 2023, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center hosted its 2nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Over 300 attendees enjoyed local vendors, live entertainment, free food, fun giveaways, and more. The Kid Zone included face painting, arts and crafts, a bounce house, and hamster ball play area. Special guests included Anita Martinez Ballet Folklórico and Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep Aesthetic Literacy students and Varsity cheerleaders.

Local students participated in a Hispanic Heritage Month art display, which is available for public viewing inside the MLK Administration Building until October 15. Participating schools and individuals included KIPP Destiny, Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep, H. Grady Spruce High School, Reynolds Middle School (Prosper ISD), iLearn Virtual Academy, Madison Smith, and David Yisrael.

Community Partners included LIRA Group, HELP, Dallas Public Library, Dallas Park and Recreation, DFW Voices for Education, Southwest Transplant Alliance, Community Arts Pop-Up Cultural Center, Atmos Energy, In the City for Good, CKP, Dallas Sidekicks, Domingo Garcia Law Office, and Molina Healthcare.

 

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Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the MLK, Jr. Community Center

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center Events, Information

 

Each year we observe National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15) by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans.

Hispanic Heritage Month Festival

Anita Martinez Ballet Folklorico (Special Guests at the 2023 Hispanic Heritage Festival)

We are commemorating this occasion with our 2nd Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Festival on Saturday, October 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the MLK, Jr. Community Center. The festival is an in-person community event with free activities for children, live entertainment, and local vendors for the community to enjoy.

Special guests include the Anita Martinez Ballet Folklorico who will perform a dance selection.

Hispanic Heritage Month Student Art Display

There is a student art display inside of the Administration Building with a variety of artwork reflecting the diversity of Hispanic and Latino culture from students across the DFW Metroplex. The student art display will be available for public viewing September 15-October 15, Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information about the Hispanic Heritage Month Festival and celebration, visit bit.ly/MLKHispanicHeritage.

Hispanic Heritage Month Festival

2023 Hispanic Heritage Month Student Art Display

Empowering the Masses Phlebotomy and Community Health Worker Graduation

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center Uncategorized ,

On Saturday, August 19, 2023, Empowering the Masses hosted its Summer 2023 Phlebotomy and Community Health Worker Graduation at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center.

There was a total of 20 graduates, including 11 Phlebotomy and 9 Community Health Worker students.  There were 215 attendees in total.

Special guests included Kelly Drake, MLK Advisory Board Member (District 9), Empowering the Masses Board and Staff, and Tammy Johnson, Founder of Empowering the Masses.

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MLK Back to School Festival (Event Recap)

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center Events

On Saturday, August 12, 2023, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center hosted its Annual MLK Back to School Festival which is an event for students and families to receive free backpacks, school supplies, and other essential items for the new school year.

Over 30 community partners participated in the festival, distributing supplies to nearly 1000+ students and families.

Community Partners included LIRA Group; Peter & Dena Silberman; The Richards Group; HELP; Colliers; Enterprise Philanthropy; Bautista Family Cares, LLC; SubroSmart; The IDK Foundation; Reliant NRG; Dental Arcade; Lion of Judah Montessori Private School; Amazon; City of Dallas Office of Community Outreach and Marketing; South Dallas Community Court; Seasons of Change, Inc.; AAA Texas; In-N-Out Burger; City of Dallas Office of Environmental Quality & Sustainability; CBRE Black Excellence DFW Chapter; Moss Heating & Cooling; Macy’s; KIPP Texas Public Schools; City of Dallas Environmental Education Initiative; MLK, Jr. Branch Library; Atmos Energy; Miles of Freedom; Carter’s House; Fundbox; DFW Alliance of Black Accountants; Rolex; Celebration Station; Green Careers Dallas; Abide Women’s Health Services; Foremost Family Health Center; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (Alpha Sigma Lambda Chapter); and McDonalds of North Texas.

In-N-Out was provided by Dallas Park and Recreation. Music was provided by DJ Trikky. 

Special thanks to our volunteers for their time and dedication to serving the community!

Event Preparation with Enterprise Volunteers (8-4-2023)

 

Event Day (8-12-2023)

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New Exhibit Opens at the MLK, Jr. Community Center

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center Information ,
Dr. King speaks at Southern Methodist University (SMU), 1966

New Exhibit Opens at the MLK, Jr. Community Center

A replica of SMU’s historical marker honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1966 visit to the campus has been installed inside of Building A at the MLK, Jr. Community Center. The exhibit is now open to the public.

Visitors can read the plaque and also listen to a snippet of Dr. King’s speech.

Listen to the full audio speech:

For questions, contact 214-670-8418.

A Shower of Blessings

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center Events , , ,

On Wednesday, July 12, 2023, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, hosted “A Shower of Blessings” as a special day for the homeless.

This event was a collaboration with Carter’s House, The Practice, Streetside Showers, Clean Up USA, Volunteering While Black, Sean the Barber, Jaylen Partee, Abounding Prosperity, and the MLK Advisory Board and staff.

Free showers, hygiene products, clothing, haircuts, and food were provided to approximately 160 attendees.

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Journey, Next Steps

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center Uncategorized ,

On Saturday, July 8, 2023, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, in collaboration with LIRA Group, hosted Journey, Next Steps, a college readiness program for graduating seniors.

Students were selected to participate after submitting an essay describing their biggest challenge in life and how it prepared them for their next journey into college. Once accepted into the program, students attended a college readiness program, went on college tours, and received a college starter kit with with everything needed to prepare for their new journey.

Upon completion of the program, students were gifted new laptops, refrigerators, microwaves, bedding, toiletries, and more in preparation for their freshman year of college.

Sponsors included Geico, Vistra Corp., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Tau Rho Omega Chapter), Southern Methodist University, Peter & Dena Silberman, Terris Perkins, Jr., Oncor, and the City of Dallas Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center.

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Community Day of Giving (Event Recap)

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center Events , , ,

On Saturday, June 24, 2023, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center hosted Community Day of Giving in collaboration with Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) and LIRA Group. This event was a community-driven effort to provide food, household items, and support to those in need while celebrating and acknowledging the historical significance of Juneteenth.  

Community Partners included City of Dallas, Dairy Farmers of America, Kroger, LIRA Group, HELP, Treehouse Foods, In the City For Good, GoodPop, In-N-Out, Seasons of Change, Yum Brands, Harmony Community Development Corporation, Velawood, UPS, Pizza Hut, and Cigna Healthcare. 

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Beat the Heat

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center Information

Beat the Heat

Reliant Energy is teaming up with the City of Dallas to help people stay cool during the Texas summer heat.

City of Dallas residents can visit one of our Beat the Heat cooling centers which will provide a safe and comfortable place to stay cool and reduce the need for home electricity use during the hottest days of summer. 

Cooling centers will open June 27, following a 11:30 a.m. press conference at the West Dallas Multipurpose Center.

Cooling center hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Two locations are available:

  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center (2922 MLK, Jr. Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75215)
  • West Dallas Multipurpose Center (2828 Fish Trap Rd., Dallas, TX 75212)

Free Cooling Fans

City of Dallas residents can sign up to receive a free cooling fan (while supplies last). Quantities are limited to only one unit per household.

To apply:

For more information, visit bit.ly/DallasBeatTheHeat.

2023 Juneteenth 4K Freedom Walk & Festival (Event Recap)

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center Events

On Saturday, June 17, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center hosted the 2023 Juneteenth 4K Freedom Walk & Festival.

An estimated 1,500 people came out to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday. This year’s theme was “Let Freedom Ring.”

There were more than 350 registered participants in the 4K Freedom walk, which included community partners, nonprofits, volunteers, and other supporters of the MLK, Jr. Community Center. Attendees enjoyed 55 unique vendors, free food, including fresh produce from the North Texas Food Bank, snow cones from Kona Ice, fun activities for children, including a bounce house, human hamster balls, and arts and craft activities.

There was a special presentation to unveil a replica of the official historical marker at Southern Methodist University honoring Dr. King’s visit to the university in 1966. The replica will be permanently installed inside of the community center for the public to view and to also listen to a snippet of the speech.

Special guests included Harrison Blair, Master of Ceremony; Dallas City Council member Adam Bazaldua (District 7); Dallas Assistant City Manager Liz Cedillo-Pereira; Vocalist Jyllian Manning; Emma Rodgers, Curator of the Dallas Civil Rights Museum; Dance Instructor Bria Washington; and the MLK Advisory Board. Breakfast was provided by DFW Voices for Education and Youth. Lunch was sponsored by KFC and Williams Chicken. Music was provided by DJ Trikky. 

Community Partners included the City of Dallas, Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, LIRA Group, HELP, Amazon, Reliant, Oncor, Accident & Injury Chiropractic, Dallas Park and Recreation, Geico, North Texas Food Bank, Southside Quarter Development Corporation, U.S. Renal Care, BODYARMOR, Southern Methodist University, Guayaki, National Association of Health Services Executives, Solv Energy, Walls Project, Anheuser-Busch, Oasis Focus, Inc., Nebraska Furniture Mart, True Pix Photography, and the African American Museum of Dallas.

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-Photos courtesy of True Pix Photography-

 

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