‘Community Watch’ focuses on Rome’s Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Weekend Celebration

Community Watch focuses on the King Holiday Celebration this week with Jon Hersey joined by Alvin Jackson. Click the above image to watch the 30-minute show.

“Facing the Challenge of Change” is the message Berry College hopes to share with the Rome community as they open their doors for a Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday service weekend. The public is invited to a 7 p.m. Friday screening of the movie “Selma” followed by a discussion led by University of West Georgia Assistant Professor of History Larry O. Rivers in the McAllister Auditorium. Light refreshments will also be provided. On Sunday, former Rome City Commissioner Duane Reid will lead a “Gathering of People of Faith” at 11 a.m. in the Krannert Ballroom. The service welcomes people to join together for this special MLK Service where the community can celebrate King’s vision of unity against injustice. Afterwards, a continental breakfast will be served. These events are free and open to the public.

The King weekend celebration schedule:

Friday, Jan. 15

The M.L.K. Commission of Rome and Northwest Georgia will be hosting its annual King Celebration Weekend. The Celebration begins on Friday evening with a production “Journey Into Blackness Through Art, Music and Poetry” written and directed by Mary Shopshire andVictor Hixon.The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Rome City Auditorium and is free and open to the public.

Saturday, Jan. 16

The Annual Prayer Breakfast will be at 9 a.m. at the Forum in downtown Rome. Tickets are $15 each, tables are also available (seating for 10 at $135) and can be purchased at the Rome Kroger. Groups of 10 wishing to reserve a table should contact John Stevenson at 706-234-0104 or at 706-766-8456. Deadline to purchase tickets or reserve a table is Tuesday, January 12th by 6 p.m. No tickets will be available after this time. The speaker for the morning will be Corey Shackleford Sr., Deputy Grand Master Foundation Lodge No, 592.

Sunday, Jan. 17

Sunday’s ecumenical services will be held at North Rome Church of God,1929 North Broad St. beginning at 5 p.m.The speaker will be Reverend John Foster, Ph.D Senior Pastor of Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Atlanta. Dr.Foster has a distinguished career both as a clergy in the AME Church and as an educator at several colleges and universities.

Monday, Jan. 18

Monday will begin with the annual Freedom March. Participants should assemble at 11 a.m. at the corner of Broad and 1st avenue. The march will begin at 11:30 a.m. and proceed to the Rome City Auditorium where the noon Martin Luther King Celebration will be held. The speaker for the program will be Chata Maria Spikes, founder of Spiked Communications, a media/communications consulting firm. The weekend will culminate with a free lunch at the Rome Civic Center following the noon celebration program. Doors will not open until after the noon program. For additional information, please contact Alvin Jackson at 706-346-7202 or Sundai Stevenson at 706-346-7524.