Various organizations around town are celebrating the life and contributions of Martin Luther King Jr. this week:

Friday, January 19

• 1 p.m. – MLK Birthday Celebration, Hefner VA Medical Center, 1601 Brenner Avenue, Building 6, Social Room.

Sunday, January 20

• 3 p.m. – Humanitarian Awards Program, Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1920 Shirley Avenue.

Monday, January 21

• 7 a.m. – MLK Breakfast, Hurley YMCA, 828 Jake Alexander Boulevard. The founder of Fruit of the Spirit Ministries International Dr. Zinerva White Jr. is set to speak at the breakfast. Tickets are $8. For reservations, call 704-638-5217.
• 9:30 a.m. – Memorial Ceremony, Freedman Cemetery, Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church, 206 North Church Street.
• 11 a.m. – Annual Dr. MLK Jr. Holiday Parade. The route begins at Freedman Cemetery, left on Bank Street and ends at the Civic Center. Festivities follow the parade including fun, food, vendors, entertainment and a viewing of the Presidential Inauguration.
• 6 p.m. – Readings from the winners of the annual student essay contest, Hefner VA Medical Center, 1601 Brenner Avenue, Building 6, Social Room.

For more information on the celebrations, call 704-638-5217.