BELFAST — The 35th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Candlelight walk will be held on Monday, January 15, 2024. Gather at 4:30 p.m. in front the Belfast Post Office, and walk together to the First Church in Belfast, UCC, 104 Church St. for a celebration of Dr. King’s work.

“Join us in the Sanctuary (at approximately 4:45 p.m.) for a program to honor both our history and the ongoing work to create a truly inclusive and beloved community here in Waldo County,” said a news release.

The speaker this year will be Dustin Ward, a racial equity and reconciliation advocate who has worked with the Waldo County Sheriff’s Department as well as several other towns in Maine on equity and inclusion issues in the past. Ward is also President/Founder of “It is Time,” an organization that looks to end racism throughout all communities in Maine. He will be addressing Dr. King’s question from his last published book, Where Do We Go from Here-Chaos or Community?.

As the group shares appreciation for racial justice activists both past and present, local activists Ivy Lobato and Ethan Hughes will address the idea and importance of reparations in the work going forward.

Also participating this year will be a children’s choir made up of about 30 students from Troy Howard Middle School and the First Church UCC, led by Marty Kelly, director of Maine Voices for Peace. Belfast Community TV is collaborating on filming this event.

Organizers are sponsoring a Poster Project created by the Graphic Arts students at Waldo County Technical Center, and their posters will be displayed by local merchants in the month of January in downtown Belfast.

Sponsored by the MLK Jr. Day Planning Committee. If you wish to Zoom this event, FMI, or to check on snow date (Saturday, Jan 20, at 10 a.m.), email BelfastMLKDay@gmail.com with request.