Sunday night's event at Scranton High School, with its singing and dancing, was not just about entertainment.
It was about learning and unity, Rabbi Joseph Mendelsohn told the 150 people gathered for the Greater Scranton MLK Commission's multicultural program.
This was the seventh year the event has been held to honor and celebrate the life of civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
"We want to give the hope of unifying and the message of equality," said Val Caple, vice president of the commission and the coordinator of the event.
Cantor Vladimir Aronzon of Temple Israel sang two selections, and praise dancers from Salvation Apostolic Temple performed. With his guitar, the Rev. Kristian Bjornstad of Peace Lutheran Church played Paul Simon's "The Sound of Silence," with daughters Hannah and Marja performing the vocals.
An addition this year was the reading of essays written by Scranton High School students. Jake Williams, one of the school's vice principals and the district's representative on the MLK Commission, started the contest this year as a way to celebrate King's birthday and Black History Month.
For the contest, students identified everyday heroes in their own lives. On Sunday night, students read those essays.
One student's hero was a 9-year-old who went through cancer treatments. For another student, it was her grandmother.
Mr. Williams hopes the school district's role in the annual event will continue to grow.
"In the future, we'd like to see the auditorium filled," he said.
Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on TwitterHoliday events
âEvents scheduled today in conjunction with Martin Luther King Jr. Day include:
-âSandwich dinner at 4:15 p.m. at the United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania's Progressive Center, 414 Olive St., Scranton.
-âMarch to Lackawanna County Courthouse Square, 5:15 p.m.
-âSpeeches by city and county dignitaries at 5:30 p.m. at Courthouse Square.
-âCake and hot cocoa served at 6 p.m. at the Scranton Cultural Center.
-âScranton Area Ministerium Interfaith Service at 7 p.m. at the Salvation Apostolic Temple, 223 N. Main Ave., Scranton.