Lawrence is a wonderful, community-minded town. I'm often overwhelmed with people's spirit of generosity and commitment to community service on display at our library, but perhaps never more so than on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We strive to meet the needs of our community every day, so we believe it's especially important to remain open on the holiday to honor Dr. King's service to others.
Our library staff is still here on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to meet the daily needs of our community members, but we also engage in special community service projects and learning. This year, we're hosting a donation drive, opens a new window for our community partner JustFood, opens a new window, who do so much work toward ending hunger and increasing access to healthy food in our community. We're also hosting a free lunch buffet, generously donated by locally owned restaurant Taco Zone, opens a new window. This will be the third year that the community-minded Bates Co., opens a new window have provided this service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and each year I am filled with hope and gratitude seeing folks from all walks of life spanning different generations share a meal together. There will also be a storytime featuring beloved local artist Barry Barnes, and guest speaker Angela Bates from Humanities Kansas will give an all-ages presentation about the founding of Nicodemus: "Children of the Promised Land." Van Go volunteers will be lending us a hand this year, as will Ursula Minor and the Lawrence-Branch NAACP.
I thought it would be lovely to hear from a family that I see every year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (and on many other days) at the library. Some of you may know Sean Hunt as Approach, opens a new window, local musician. If you have come across Sean, his wife Nicole, and their young son Cairo, you have surely noticed their remarkable kindness. They graciously agreed to answer a few questions about what Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and community in general means to their family over email. My questions are in italics. Here is what they had to say:
Terese: Thanks so much Sean and Nicole for agreeing to be interviewed for this LPL blog post! I reached out because, although I don’t know y’all well, I know you’re big supporters of our community and our library. I’ve seen your family at Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events at the library for at least the past couple of years. Could you share a bit about yourselves, your connections to Lawrence, your family, how you met maybe even?
Sean and Nicole: I was raised in Overland Park and Nicole was raised here in Lawrence. We were drawn together through the vibrant music and arts scene and met at a concert. Nicole and I connected over our shared passion for supporting local initiatives and quickly became friends. Our relationship blossomed from there. Nicole and I have a 6 year old son named Cairo, who keeps us busy with school activities and adventures. We’ve always believed in the importance of community involvement, and the library has been a fantastic resource for our family. We love attending events like the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebrations, where we can teach our kiddo about diversity and the importance of social justice.
Terese: One of my favorite Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes is: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?" What message or mission of Dr. King’s do you think we could benefit from today?
Sean and Nicole: One of the key messages of Dr. King’s that we think is particularly pertinent today is the call for empathy and understanding. In a time when division seems prevalent, his emphasis on compassion and building bridges between communities is crucial. We believe that fostering dialogue and understanding is essential in addressing social issues and promoting unity.
Terese: What does Martin Luther King, Jr. Day mean to you as individuals and to your family? Do you have any rituals of action or reflection associated with the day in your family?
Sean and Nicole: For us, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a time of reflection. It serves as a reminder of the progress that has been made but also highlights the work that still lies ahead. As a family, we honor the day by participating in community activities. Participating in events that promote inclusivity, we want to embody his spirit of service.
Terese: I sometimes grapple with how to honor King’s message of hope and his commitment to community service while also acknowledging the violence associated with the Civil Rights Movement and King’s assassination. It seems like it could be difficult to talk about with young children. What approach to talking about difficult yet important subjects with your son do you take? Is there anything in particular about Martin Luther King, Jr.’s work and legacy you hope to instill in your son?
Sean and Nicole: When it comes to discussing the more difficult aspects of Dr. King's legacy, including the violence of the Civil Rights Movement and his assassination, we approach these conversations with honesty and age-appropriate sensitivity. We believe it's important to frame these discussions in a way that emphasizes resilience, hope, and the ongoing fight for justice. We want Cairo to understand that while there are dark moments in history, they also serve as catalysts for change and progress. Age appropriate books can also allow for discussion and understanding. In terms of instilling Dr. King’s values in our son, we hope to nurture a sense of empathy and responsibility towards others. We want him to recognize the importance of standing up for what is right and being an advocate for those who may not have a voice.
Terese: Could you each share one hope you have for our community this year?
Sean: I hope to see more dialogue and collaboration among different community groups to address social issues together.
Nicole: I would love to see our community become more inclusive, and realize that together, we have more strength than we do alone.
Cairo: I hope everyone can be friends and that we can all help each other.
Sean, Nicole, and Cairo: Together, we aspire to create a more compassionate and united community, where everyone feels valued and heard. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share our thoughts!
To learn more about what the library has planned this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, head over to the event on our website, opens a new window. Thanks to the Kansas Volunteer Commission and Humanities Kansas for making these events possible.
-Terese Winters is an Information Services Librarian at Lawrence Public Library.
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