Libbey Park
Ojai, CA 93023
USA
MLK Day “Never lose HOPE, Hold onto COURAGE”
Monday, January 18th, the Ojai community is invited to Libbey Park to
celebrate Martin Luther King and his message of diversity, equality and peace. This
annual celebration sponsored by the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation, is on its 16th year!
The planning committee consists of a group of high schoolers, who have been
meeting regularly since October to organize and plan, with the help of Kate Russell and
Suzanne Feldman.
The day starts at 11am and ends at 3pm. A schedule of the day is as follows:
11am Nordhoff High School Drum Line kicks off the day with a pounding beat.
Speakers Mayor Paul Blatz, Chumash Elder Julie T. and music from Monica Ros,
Julia Zonic and Smitty will be heard.
12pm We announce our elementary essay winners, listen to Blink students perform
and hear the Ojai Drummers
1pm Nordhoff high schooler Sinaí Soriano, listen to Emma Bailey and announce the essay winners of the High School essay contest.
2pm Khaled Al-Awar, a local figure, will speak, and so will Gil Sotu.
Finally at the end of the day we will listen to Martin Luther King’s Famous “I Have A Dream” speech.
This year, we have invited two food trucks to join us for the entire event.
Scratch,lovingly known to ojai, and GoodtoGo, a truck that specializes in fresh pressed organic
juices and blended smoothies.
Also, Nordhoff Interact club will be presenting a booth, along with Oak Grove School doing Henna.
The youth foundation will also be selling t-shirts for $10, in order to support this event next year.
The purpose of this annual event is not only to bring awareness to our small valley, but
to unite the entire community under a positive message such as the one that ALL lives
matter.