Several events are planned in Wilson to mark this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

LANE STREET PROJECT

Two events are planned for community members looking to make a difference, all while preserving Wilson’s rich African American culture and history. 

Leaders are asking volunteers to join them Saturday and Monday, from 9-11 a.m. or noon to 2 p.m. each day, to help formally kick off a community cleanup initiative at the Odd Fellows Cemetery at 2100 Bishop L.N. Forbes St., formerly Lane Street. 

Wilson leaders, spearheaded by historian Lisa Y. Henderson, recently announced the Lane Street Project, a community initiative dedicated to the restoration of three historic African American cemeteries in Wilson. 

Residents and groups can contribute to the project by picking up trash, cutting and pruning weeds and vines and sharing stories and oral history. 

Leaders with the Lane Street Project welcome volunteers to take hand tools, jugs of water, gloves and trash bags to help ease cleanup efforts Saturday and Monday. 

“This historic cemetery cleanup is a prime opportunity for individuals, faith-based communities and community organizations interested in an impactful way to participate in National Service Day and to support the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther Jr.,” according to a news release.

The two-day cleanup will coincide with celebrations of King’s life and legacy and preparations for Black History Month. 

“This is a unique opportunity to honor both our ancestors and an important historic community space,” said Henderson, the Lane Street Project leader. “These cemeteries were founded nearly 125 years ago and have been neglected for half that time. These are our families, our people, and I’m hoping all of Wilson will work together to restore this sacred space.”

Lane Street Project organizers hope volunteers of all ages and abilities will help to restore dignity and respect to the men and women buried in these cemeteries, both working people and some of Wilson County’s most prominent historic African Americans. In addition to the physical work of clearing the Odd Fellows Cemetery of undergrowth, project leaders invite community members to share their experiences and perspectives on the project’s importance.

Participants must wear masks at all times, and this will be a socially distanced event.

To learn more about the Lane Street Project, visit afamwilsonnc.com or follow @lanestreetproject on Instagram.

VIRTUAL BREAKFAST

The Wilson MLK Commission’s annual breakfast will be virtual this year. The program is being recorded now and will air starting at 8 a.m. Monday on Wilson Channel 8, the city’s website and on social media outlets.

According to Roosevelt Ethridge Jr., president of the Wilson MLK Commission, this year’s focus is “Executing the Dream” with a greater support of the scholarship program.

“Education is important to us,” he said. “We award local high school students who are recipients of the Wilson MLK Commission scholarship. These awardees apply in concert with other Wilson County high school students.”

The video will continue to play on the hour Monday. After that, it will be presented once a day for the remainder of the month.

CONFERENCE CALL

St. John AME Zion Church will hold a special observance of King’s birthday at its regular virtual church service to be held at 10 a.m. Sunday. The virtual event will be a Zoom videoconference in which U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield will speak on the subject of King’s life and the civil rights movement.

To join the conference from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device, use the shortened link https://bit.ly/3soi0Xk. 

The pass code is 682455.

For people who would prefer to join the St. John conference call by audio only, the telephone number is 605-472-5496, and the pass code is 200291.