East Liberty Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr., Day

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The Kelly Strayhorn Theater was packed for an afternoon of performance Monday afternoon, with an overflow crowd in the lobby.

It was East Liberty's annual celebration of Martin Luther King's birthday.

Theater executive director Janera Solomon says the event brings community residents together to acknowledge Dr. King's legacy.

"It's really an exciting opportunity for our kids and family to see the wealth of artists and creativity that we have in the neighborhood. So it's really great."

This was the sixth, and largest, MLK celebration at the theater. Kids got a hands-on opportunity to create colorful works of art, and mold tiny sculptures out of clay. It's a positive experience for performers and a

"It keeps a lot of kids out of the streets," says Nisa Saud of the YMCA Lighthouse Project. "I know alot of people joined the Lighthouse Project that weren't in a very good state of mind when they started." "It keeps them out of trouble, and away from a lot of other bad things that are going on in their life," adds her friend, Brionna Anderson.

Hundeds of people turned out. Martin Luther King undoubtedly would be happy with that. But it's likely that he'd also be proud of the diversity of the crowd.

"This is what life is all about," the theater director concludes. "And especially here in East Liberty. I think we've got a really uniquely diverse neighborhood, and that's why I like to be part of it."

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