As we approach our 30th Anniversary, the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission – A Division of the Arkansas Department of Education is having a momentous year serving Arkansans of all ages and cultural backgrounds throughout the four (4) congressional districts of Arkansas. Therefore, the Commission thanks the City of Monticello as a partner, the Monticello Police Department, the Monticello Fire Department, the Drew County Sheriff’s Office, Union Bank, and other Monticello Community Area First Responders, businesses and volunteers for their support and involvement during the Friday, July 1, 2022, Unity in the Community Festival, which was a free community empowerment event featuring home ownership and financial literacy workshops, free food, live music, and activities for youth.
The 2022 Unity in the Community Festival helped the Commission continue in its effort to encourage Arkansans to reflect on the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through educational endeavors, cultural performances, exhibitions, and public community outreach projects that are multiethnic, and family oriented. In accordance with Arkansas Code Annotated (A.C.A.) § 25-24-102, it is one of many duties of the Commission to promote among the people of Arkansas, by appropriate activities, both the awareness and appreciation of the civil rights movement as well as enable the people of Arkansas to reflect on the life and teachings of Dr. Martin LutherKing, Jr. through the donations and contributions from individuals as well as public and private organizations in order to carry out these statutory responsibilities.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s mission and philosophy of love, tolerance, and nonviolence guide the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission as the Commission strives for social improvement in Arkansas, helping communities and organizations achieve new levels of leadership and public service. The Commission works directly with youth and others, encouraging them to embrace alternatives to violence and discover their common humanity. Through activities that stress racial and cultural diversity, the Commission offers Arkansas a new understanding of the important roles they play in our communities, now and in the future. The Commission has collaborated with various agencies and organizations in its efforts to provide community services across the state of Arkansas.
For photos, videos, news/magazine/media articles, and other details about this and other public-community outreach projects and initiatives, please visit the official website and social media pages of the Arkansas MartinLuther King, Jr. Commission at the links below.
DuShun Scarbrough, Executive Director
Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and More https://linktr.ee/AMLKC
Arkansas Code Annotated / Title 25 State Government / Chapter 24 Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission / Section 102 Duties (A.C.A. § 25-24-102)
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission shall have the following duties:
(1) To promote racial harmony, understanding, respect, and goodwill among all citizens
(2) To promote principles of nonviolence, peace, and social justice
(3) To promote among the people of Arkansas, by appropriate activities, both the awareness and the appreciation of the civil rights movement and advocacy of the principles and legacy of MartinLuther King, Jr.
(4) To develop, coordinate, and advise the Governor and the General Assembly of appropriate ceremonies and activities throughout the state relating to the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, including without limitation providing advice and assistance to local governments and private organizations with respect to the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday
(5) To receive donations and contributions from individuals and public and private organizations in order to fulfill its responsibilities
(6)
- To establish a Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Commission to educate young persons on the principles and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Members of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Commission may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with § 25-16-901 et seq.; and
(7) To enable the people of Arkansas to reflect on the life and teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr. through educational endeavors, cultural performances, exhibitions, and events that are multiethnic and family-oriented.
The mission and purpose of the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission: To promote racial harmony, understanding, respect, and goodwill among all citizens; To promote principles of nonviolence, peace, and social justice; To promote among the people of Arkansas, by appropriate activities, both the awareness and the appreciation of the civil rights movement and advocacy of the principles and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.; To develop, coordinate, and advise the Governor and the General Assembly of appropriate ceremonies and activities throughout the state relating to the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, including without limitation providing advice and assistance to local governments and private organizations with respect to the observance of MartinLuther King, Jr.’s birthday; To receive donations and contributions from individuals and public and private organizations in order to fulfill its responsibilities; To establish a Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Commission to educate young persons on the principles and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.; To enable the people of Arkansas to reflect on the life and teachings of MartinLuther King, Jr. through educational endeavors, cultural performances, exhibitions, and events that are multiethnic and family-oriented.
