Keystone to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

La Plume -- Keystone College will join a nationwide celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with several community service activities on Monday, January 21. Highlighting the full-day of events is the presentation, “Voting Rights: A Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.” by Keystone graduate Lamont Carolina at 7 p.m. in the Theatre in Brooks.

A member of the Keystone Class of 2007, Mr. Carolina worked on behalf of President Barack Obama during the 2008 and 2012 elections, most recently as director of voter registration with Organizing for America - North Carolina. He will discuss his campaign experiences and the importance of public service.

In addition to his work on President Obama’s campaigns, Mr. Carolina has been engaged in several service projects, most notably traveling to Haiti in 2010 following the devastating earthquake in that country. While in Haiti, he helped children deal with severe emotional stress by developing the project, “Puppets for Haiti.”

Currently, Mr. Carolina resides in New York City and was recently appointed to Community Board 16, a local government body in Brooklyn that reviews matters pertaining to land use, public services, and budget priorities. He also serves as an executive board member of the Brooklyn Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

In addition to the voting rights presentation, members of the Keystone community will participate in a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service to benefit victims of Hurricane Sandy. Students will assemble sleeping bags from recycled fabrics in partnership with the Hop Bottom-based My Brother’s Keeper Quilt Group and its “Sleeping Bag Project” from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Theatre in Brooks. Once completed, the sleeping bags will be donated to Hurricane Sandy victims on the East Coast.   

Also on January 21, members of the Keystone community will participate in the Martin Luther King Day March from the United Neighborhood Center to Courthouse Square in Scranton.