Since 1986, our nation has observed the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. on the third Monday in January, and while this year’s holiday came with frigid temperatures, that didn’t stop LCEC middle schoolers from attending the 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Call to Service Day.
At Monday’s event, students rotated through three small group sessions, including a history-based discussion, a call for volunteering, and an analysis of the lyrics and meaning behind freedom songs.
LCEC youth especially enjoyed exploring the meaning of freedom songs (such as the one pictured here) back when they were written and comparing that to the meanings we find in freedom songs today. Students also had the opportunity to participate in singing freedom songs, and while most middle schoolers were initially shy to do so, they ultimately enjoyed the opportunity to connect with the music and express themselves.