HANFORD, CA — Residents across the South Valley gathered Monday to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with celebrations in Hanford and Visalia that emphasized education and community engagement.
Hanford Returns to Public Celebration
About 100 people met at the Hanford Civic Auditorium for the city’s first public Martin Luther King Jr. event since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Led by Paula Massey, Women With Vision Unlimited organized the celebration for the first time after taking over event planning from the NAACP.
The four-hour event, themed "Dream But Stay Woke," featured 15 vendors and various artistic presentations such as poetry and dance. The Lions Club kicked off the morning by serving breakfast for attendees. Musical highlights included Karen Edwards singing the Black National Anthem and two performances by Monay Sha’Reece.
Massey noted that while the gathering marked a return to public celebrations, the crowd was smaller than the approximately 500 people who attended the 2019 event.
Hanford Mayor Mark Kairis gave opening remarks. Council members Lou Martinez, Kimber Regan, and Travis Paden also attended, though no members of the Kings County Board of Supervisors were present.
The city officially established Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday on December 19, 2006. This followed a petition drive where more than 2,000 people signed to put the issue on a local ballot.
Visalia Youth Focus on Respectful Conversation
In Visalia, approximately 100 children and members of the Boys & Girls Club of the Sequoias marched through downtown to Garden Street Plaza. The event focused on the theme "Disagree Better," aiming to teach children how to handle differences of opinion peacefully.
Participants listened to a recording of Dr. King’s 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech. To practice how to disagree politely, the children took part in lighthearted debates on topics such as "Coke or Pepsi."
Tulare County Supervisor Eddie Valero addressed the group, telling the children they have the power to change their communities by improving how they interact with others.
Christian Cervantes, unit director for the Farmersville Boys & Girls Club, said the event helps children understand the history of the holiday and why they have the day off. He added that it also teaches them to respect one another.
