By Delarita Ford
Mail | X: @AzNewsmedia

Municipalities throughout the Valley commemorate the life of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this month to honor the peace advocate, who stood for unity and equality, by having month-long celebrations and activities revolving around a day of service and cultural awareness. 

Born Jan. 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, his birthday is a federally-recognized holiday designated for the third Monday in January every year. While many people have the day off from work and school that day, communities throughout the country arrange programs and events before and after the holiday to encourage volunteering, helping those less fortunate, and working together.

Scheduled MLK events are below:

• Scottsdale’s 30th Annual MLK Jr. Celebration Dinner program, hosted by the Community Celebrating Diversity, is 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at The Fieldhouse at Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale. Featured guest speaker is Dr. Battinto L. Batts Jr., educator/award-winning journalist, and the 2024 Diversity Champions, Kris Cano and Dr. Velma Trayham will be honored. See: ccdarizona.org.
• Surprise's Eighth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration & Service is 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Jan. 13 at The Vista Center for the Arts, 15660 N. Parkview Pl., Surprise. Registration begins at 8 a.m. for the 8:30-10:30 a.m. Day of Service projects. See: surpriseaz.gov/MLK.
•  Glendale's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Jan. 13, at Sahuaro Ranch Park, 9802 N 59th Ave. HandsOn Greater Phoenix and St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance partnered to welcome more than 200 volunteers to help glean fruit to donate vitamin-rich citrus to families in need. This project also helps beautify a Glendale landmark. Register at: form.jotform.com/203076731392151. Contact Stephanie Fenderson-Gonzales at 623-930-3582 or sfenderson-gonzales@glendaleaz.com.
•  Chandler's 29th Annual Chandler Multicultural Festival, sponsored by Intel Arizona, is 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13 at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park: Stage Plaza, 178 E. Commonwealth Ave. The free event has cultural performances, children’s activities, vendors, and food. Look for the Intel Equity in STEAM.
•  38th Annual Living the Dream Awards Breakfast is 8 a.m. Jan. 14 at the Phoenix Convention Center, South Building and an Interfaith Commemorative Program is 8:15-8:45 a.m. on Jan. 15
•  Town of Paradise Valley Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration is 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Jan. 15 at Town Hall, 6401 E. Lincoln Drive. Sponsored by the Baha’is of Paradise Valley, the program is followed by lunch.
•  Commemorative March will be held at East Lake Park starting with an assembly at 8:45 a.m. and the march begins at 9 a.m., followed by a festival at Margaret T. Hance Park 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 15; Youth Rally 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 20 at Phoenix College. See: azmlk.org for information.
•  Commemorative Candlelight Service will be held 6-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15, at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Phoenix
• Third Annual San Tan Valley MLK Celebration is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 15 at Veterans Center, 5764 E. Hunt Highway in San Tan Valley. Speakers are Neal Carter, Arizona State Rep. Theresa Palma, Pan De Vida Laura Craft, Queen Creek Juneteenth founder; and closing remarks by Rev. John Gakanga;  House of Transformation is sponsoring the free, family-friendly event with games, prizes, vendors and food trucks. Student essay contest winners will be awarding their prizes at the event.
• Mesa MLK Parade and  Festival is 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the intersection of MLK Way and the Honorary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street (Center Street), turning east on First Street and ending on Hibbert. After the parade with marching bands, dance troupes, the Buffalo Soldiers, schools, organizations, community leaders, neighboring towns, elected officials and more, the community festival is noon-4 p.m. at The Plaza at Mesa City Center, 56 E Main Street.
• 33nd Annual MLK March on Arizona State University’s West campus is Wednesday, Jan. 17. The in-person event includes educational presentations about the history of the Civil Rights Movement, a musical program and a rendition of the "I Have a Dream" speech by ASU faculty member Charles St. Clair, plus student breakout sessions with ASU faculty/staff discussing in-depth content highlighting eight cities across the country. Email MLKWest@asu.edu for more information. 
• Tempe MLK Program presented by the African American Advisory Committee, the Tempe History Museum, 809 E. Southern Ave., will host community chats, featuring discussions, film clips, and more at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, Jan. 23. The event will also be streamed live on facebook.com/tempehistorymuseum. Call 480-350-5100 for more information

Delarita Ford
Lead Reporter | Surprise

dford@iniusa.org

Meet Delarita
Delarita Ford originally joined Independent Newspapers Incorporated, now Independent Newsmedia, Inc. USA in 1997, as a general assignment reporter for the Delaware State News daily paper after starting her journalism career in Maryland in 1994, where she honed her skills by writing obituaries, covering community news from births to deaths, education to legislation and more. As a reporter, she has had the opportunity to cover sitting and former U.S. presidential visits in Baltimore, Delaware, and Arizona.

Community: One of the few seasoned journalists who still enjoys covering community events, she can be found with a reporter’s pad taking notes, her phone taking pictures while capturing life’s moments to memorialize them in print for the local newspapers and for the active-adult community where she lives. She maintains a presence with the Black media and the National Association of Black Journalists to encourage peers, socialize, and mentor younger writers.

Education: Life learner who learns from life. Aside from the collegiate education received, she got the best training from on-the-job experience with former editors who went through copy with a red pen and demanded the best writing for hard news and feature stories. 

Random Fact: While a Delaware State News reporter, she could call then Sen. Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, usually late at night if a quote or input was needed for varying topics, including legislation and education.

Hobbies: Adopt rescue dogs and give them a nice home. Continuously read and critique news stories from various platforms.