Events in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday include exhibit and original videos.
Photo credit: Matt Colvin
In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday in January, Cedar Crest is hosting “I Have a Dream” month to honor the civil rights leader’s life and legacy. The events are sponsored and organized by the “Welcoming Diversity and Inclusion” committee at the Erickson Living-managed senior living community in Pequannock, NJ. The committee started operating in the second half of 2020, and its goal is to introduce many ethnicities, religions, and nationalities to the community.
Throughout the month, a showcase will be on display in the Woodland Commons clubhouse on campus. The educational exhibit features a pictorial timeline from 1920 through 1965 featuring Black experiences and dreams, including the Great Migration, Harlem Renaissance, the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education, civil rights movement, the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the impact of Jim Crow segregation laws, and the passing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
“Designing the exhibit was a labor of love with heavy emphasis on labor,” said resident and lead organizer Lenni Newman. “In addition to classic books, the internet was our major resource for background information and the phenomenal choice of photos, all of which are part of the display. I had three goals; to attract and engage viewers, to educate them, and to make them want more.”
Newman is happy that the exhibit has received a great response from residents and staff on campus. “I believe that ‘I Have A Dream’month has alerted Blacks and other minorities that our community is expanding diversity ideas and culture, opening the eyes of many to Black experiences and dreams, and nudged more understanding and new relationships,” said Newman.
Original videos will be broadcast on Cedar Crest’s in-house television station throughout the month, including a reading of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech from Cedar Crest employees and oral histories from residents who attended the historic 1963 March in Washington. Cedar Crest TV will also broadcast a video celebrating the Harlem Renaissance culture and celebrity, researched and narrated by a resident and edited by Cedar Crest CTV Lead Coordinator Mike Dygos.
Cedar Crest’s Welcoming Diversity & Inclusion committee seeks to provide programs and resources that enhance knowledge, encourage understanding, and foster a culture of mutual respect among community members. The group is one of many active clubs and committees on campus, providing residents with plenty of opportunities to engage and connect with neighbors who share their interests.
About Cedar Crest: Cedar Crest, one of 20 continuing care retirement communities managed by Erickson Living®, is situated on a scenic 130-acre campus in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. The not-for-profit community of more than 1,800 residents and 1,000 employees is governed by its own board of directors, affiliated with National Senior Campuses, Inc., who provide independent financial and operational oversight of the community. Additional information about Cedar Crest can be found at CedarCrestCommunity.com.
