WESTBOROUGH – How do you build a “beloved community?”
That became the focus of the sixth annual Community Celebration honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 15, at Westborough High School.
The theme, “Walking the Path to Dr. King’s Beloved Community,” was based on a quote from King’s widow, Corretta Scott King. A copy of the quote appeared at each table in the cafeteria along with questions on how to create this kind of community.
Superintendent Amber Bock read the quote in its entirety.
“It’s more true today than ever,” Bock said.
“Martin Luther King Day is very special to me,” said state Rep. Kate Donaghue (D-Westborough). “It’s a holiday that came about in my lifetime. It’s a time for reflection.”
Following a performance of Kyle Pedersen’s “Heartbeat” by the Westborough High School Choral Union, the main part of the program began.
Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz of Temple B’nai Shalom interviewed LaToya Thomas, principal and founder of Brick and Story. Thomas, a native of Washington, D.C., with a background in urban planning, said she combines her love of building and “how we occupy space” to help introduce equity and inclusion into developing properties.
Before the audience broke out into discussion groups, Thomas offered some guidelines in how to structure a conversation.
“Get back to the basic of being human first,” she said.
In the school’s library, author Wednesday Boateng led a children’s program, which included readings and an activity. Members of the high school’s Black Student Union took part in the program as well.
At the end of the activity, the children were led to a drumming circle in the lobby.
Westborough Connects and Westborough Public Library staffed tables; the library had several books on King and other civil rights leaders available for borrowing.
The event was sponsored by Westborough Interfaith Clergy, Westborough Public Schools, Central MA Connections in Faith and Westborough Connects.
