“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically … Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.” –Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The first grade class at Elm Creative Arts designed the poster commemorating the celebration theme, "People Must Work Together."

The City of Milwaukee’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration spotlights the best and brightest students within the Milwaukee Public Schools, choice, charter and parochial schools. And after participating in the three-hour event, I can confidently say the future of our community is in good hands.

“People Must Work Together” was the theme of the party, held Sunday afternoon at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, and the multicultural blending of faces, styles and ages brought the party to life. The party started with a pep rally, led by the drumline from Fritsche Middle School. That was followed by an a capella rendition of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” the Black National Anthem. Many in the audience joined Ms. Breeze of Running Rebels Community Organization as her voice soared with words that promise hope for the future.

Other performance groups included the Chinese Youth Symphony (click to hear the Chinese Symphony‘s performance), the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Calypso and Progressions, African dance troupe Discovery our Destiny and the Milwaukee Children’s Choir.

Latino Arts Mariachi Juvenil, consisting of 8- to 17 -year-olds, performed traditional Hispanic string pieces. They were lead in song by a senior group member named Juan. His smooth voice and rugged good looks had the audience whistling and howling their approval.  (Listen to Mariachi Juvenil‘s performance here).

Spread throughout the celebration were speeches given by the winning students in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speech contest. Listen to the winners insights and hopes for the future below.

Trinity Higgins was the winner of the K-2nd grade speech contest. She attends Elm Creative Arts.

Trinity Higgins, K-2nd grade division.

Ruth Fetaw was full of fire during her speech as winner of the 1st-2nd grade division. Fetaw attends 95th Street School.

Ruth Fetaw, 3rd-4th grade division.  

Thad Smith, from Elm Creative Arts, was the winner of the 5th-6th grade speech contest.

Thaddeus Smith, 5th-6th grade division.

Jamal Hegwood, from Starms Discovery Learning Center, won the 7th-8th grade division for his speech on MLK, Jr.

Jamal Hegwood, 7th-8th grade division.

Rufus King High School's Miela Fetaw was the winner of the 9th-10th grade MLK, Jr. speech contest.

Miela Fetaw, 9th-10th grade division.

Milwaukee School of the Arts student, Gunnar Raasch, won the 11th-12th grade division of the MLK, Jr. speech contest.

Gunnar Raasch, 11th-12th grade division.

All of these performances reminded the audience that we are one people and need to work together to improve the world for all, a lesson Dr. King would be proud for us to all learn.

 See more photographs taken at the event.