Waynflete celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy through art and dialogue

Last week, our Middle and Upper School students honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy through meaningful discussion and artistic expression.

Upper School students welcomed Black Travel Maine founder Lisa Jones, retired educator and community leader Merita McKenzie, and artist and writer Joan White for this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day assembly. The panelists discussed their work, shared their life experiences, and engaged with students in purposeful conversations about social justice and Dr. King’s legacy. The assembly created a powerful space for reflection and dialogue within our Upper School community. Thank you to all our guests for sharing their perspectives!

After studying persuasive speaking in Theater 8, the entire eighth grade performed Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech during Middle School assembly. They were joined by the Upper School chorus, who closed the event with a powerful rendition of Sam Cooke’s iconic “A Change is Gonna Come” and Ruthie Foster’s “Feels Like Freedom.”

Today, we honor Dr. King’s sacrifice and perseverance in pursuit of racial equality, while acknowledging the work still ahead. We hope that you will use this day to celebrate his legacy, engage in service to help others, and move forward with a renewed commitment to creating a world where everyone is treated justly with dignity and respect.