Wayne Action for Racial Equality

2023 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration

The annual 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration kicks off Black History Month in a Year on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 16,2023 from 12:45 to 3:15 PM at the Sodus Third United Methodist Church. The theme of the 2023 Wayne County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration is the importance of struggling against racism in all its forms in the spirit of Dr. King’s legacy of non-violent resistance. The program will feature the contributions of area students and young adults to forge community and recognition of our elders with the Elders’ Narratives Project. The Elders’ Narratives Project will give Wayne County elders of color an opportunity to record their memories for posterity in recognition of the Wayne County 2023Bicentennial.

The hosts this year will be the Wayne Action for Racial Equality, the Village of Sodus and the Sodus Central School My Brothers Keeper Program. Sodus Third United Methodist Church and The Finger Lakes Community School Office will provide technical support. https://www.facebook.com/WayneActionForRacialEquality/.THE MLK COMMUNITY MARCH will take place at noon beginning at Sodus High School and culminating at the church. A Community dinner will take place in the church dining area immediately following the celebration.

Prior to the afternoon program, the Justice Organization for Youth (JOY)will lead the MLK Youth Leadership Workshop hosted at the Sodus High School by school staff. JOY is sponsored by Rural and Migrant Ministry’s Liturgia Rural Workers Education Center of Lyons. The workshop is open to all Wayne County middle and high school students. Participants will be led through the process of using Paolo Freire’s Theater of the Oppressed methods to develop the leadership skills of self-awareness, communication, performance preparation and relationship building. The goal is to teach youth to recognize, disrupt and overcome experiences of oppression.  

Just as Dr. King inspired a movement to broaden the human rights of all people, the 2023 Wayne County MLK Celebration will endeavor to deepen community bonds by coming together for a day dedicated to the spirit of shared values. Please join us for all or any part of the day.

For further details, contact Jim Wood at

Jwood6923@gmail.com(585-967-8687) or Pat Hall (585-737-2542)