Groups Honor Martin Luther King Jr. With Special Activities

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Across town, people of all ages gathered to pay tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.

It's a vacation day at Shady Side Academy, but dozens of youngsters showed up anyway.

Elementary school "bakers" designed cookies for other kids to eat. Communications director Jen Roupe says it's the academy's sixth annual MLK Day of Service.

"Here at our junior school in Point Breeze, we have students from pre-K through five, and they're serving 'Beverly's Birthday,' which is a wonderful local non-profit which does birthday parties for homeless children."

As they work, they're reminded of Dr. King's legacy, the importance of reaching out to others.

At the Kingsley Center in Larimer, older students collect books for Children's Hospital.

Leonard McAllister, a Shady Side junior, is a student volunteer.

"We feel the need to come out here and show people," he says. "Even though we do have certain advantages, we still want to give back to them, and show we care about them and what they do in their lives."

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In East Liberty, people are celebrating Dr. King's life with song and dance.

The Kelly-Strayhorn Theater honors civil rights leader Martin Luther King, with the eighth annual event called "East Liberty Celebrates MLK." For Desiree S. Lee, it makes for a busy, but rewarding, afternoon.

"We are gathering people together with some of our partners in the community," she says. "We have tables in our lobby, with interactive, creative activities for our children and families."

The event promotes a diversity that Dr. King had dreamed about.

On stage, there are seven shows, ranging from poetry to song and dance.

Emcee D. S. Kinsel says the entire event is a positive experience.

"We have so many different class levels, so many different cultures. We have artists, City Council men, parents, kids. I mean, what more can you ask for from a crowd."