Martin Luther King Jr. programs, tributes in the Fox Valley

Monday, Jan. 16, is Martin Luther King Day. Here are some of the programs planned to pay tribute to his memory and his legacy.

Aurora

• Celebrating King's life: 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16, at Metea Valley High School, 1801 N. Eola Road, Aurora. Hosted by Aurora's MLK Committee in collaboration with the city of Aurora and Aurora's African-American Heritage Board, the annual event will feature performances from students from Aurora schools, a presentation of the Service Above Self Awards to students who have been of service to the Aurora community, and recognition to those who participated in Aurora's MLK Day of Service. Student groups from local schools will spotlight such milestones in King's life as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, his visit to India, his time in a Birmingham jail, the March on Selma and his Poor People's Campaign. The portrayals will be accompanied by video clips and songs performed by local singers. Visit www.aurora-il.org/mlk.

• Aurora University: Aurora University will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday with "Let Freedom Ring," a series of music, film and discussion programs from Tuesday through Friday, Jan. 17-20. Presentations include "Being an Effective Ally," the movie "Selma," "Making America/Russia Great Again? Nostalgia and Democratic Discourse," "¡Sí, se puede! The Powerful Impact," "The Spiritual: From Slavery to Civil Rights, "The Sanctuary in the Promised Land," a poetry slam, "Art, Freedom and Responsibility," and a conversation and viewing of the presidential inauguration. The public is invited and admission is free. For a detailed schedule of events, visit aurora.edu/freedom.

Crystal Lake

• Interfaith Prayer Breakfast: 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at D'Andrea Banquets, 4419 Route 14 in Crystal Lake. Phyllis Unterschuetz, author and co-founder/president of the Race Story ReWrite Project, will be the keynote speaker. The program will include a Native American honor song, call to prayer and group prayer with participants from a variety of local faith traditions, including Islamic, Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, various Christian traditions and New Thought. There also will be the reading of a winning essay by a local middle school student addressing the theme "Honestly Confronting Racism," plus music and chants with Lia Nicine McCoo. Tickets are $20 adults, $10 students. Visit www.faithbridgeinterfaith.org.

• Racial Healing Workshop: 1 to 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16, at Bethany Lutheran Church, 76 W. Crystal Lake Ave., in Crystal Lake. To reserve your space, email interfaithchats@gmail.com. Donations will be accepted. Presented by Phyllis Unterschuetz, who spent 15 years living in an RV with her husband, conducting field research on the dynamics of racial conditioning and presenting for universities, civic organizations, and neighborhood groups around the country. Their book "Longing: Stories of Racial Healing" contains true accounts of their awakening to the effects of racism. Unterschuetz is also co-founder and president of the Race Story ReWrite Project, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create sustainable social change by elevating the discourse on race and empowering individuals to access their authentic capacities to transform cross-racial relationships.

Elgin

• 32nd annual prayer breakfast: 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive. The city of Elgin will commemorate the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Area faith leaders will reflect on the theme, "Nonviolence is the answer ... the foundation of such method is love." Keynote speaker is Junaid Afeef, director of the Targeted Violence Prevention Program at the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. The Dr. King Humanitarian Award will be presented. Tickets, $15, are sold out. Contact Gail Cohen at (847) 931-5607 or stop by city hall, 150 Dexter Court, Elgin.

• Public program: 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, at the Hemmens, 45 Symphony Way. Local groups will perform in tribute to King. Free.

• Youth Day of Service: registration 8:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16, at The Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way. Geared toward young people in middle and high school. Participants learn about community issues and how they can help address them. This year's keynote speaker is Sarah Culberson, author of "A Princess Found." To register, visit cityofelgin.org. A community food drive will also take place, with donations accepted at fire stations, city hall, Jewel food stores and most churches.

• Chapel service at Judson: 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16, in Herrick Chapel, Judson University, 1151 N. State St., Elgin. Choir members and musicians of Second Baptist Church of Elgin will perform, and Second Baptist Church pastor, the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Edmond, will be guest speaker. Free. www.judson.edu.