A three day celebration of the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. kicks off Wednesday in Bowling Green with an event at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. A youth night on Sunday and series of gatherings on Monday will follow.
Bowling Green Martin Luther King Planning Committee chairperson Ryan Dearbone said the committee decided to expand from a one-day breakfast, march, and service in order to attract a wider audience.
"Unless you just have the time, you're probably not going to get to come to all the events to hopefully you find an event within that week that you want to come to and that you're able to take part in," Dearbone said.
Each event will circle around the theme, "My future depends on me." The Sunday night portion, which takes place at Parker-Bennett Elementary School, aims to target young people in a way the other parts of the celebration wouldn't. That includes by partnering with groups like the Bowling Green Police Department to help build positive relationships between law enforcement and community youths.
Dearbone said motivation from the theme comes from how Dr. King lived his life.
"He knew that his future, the future of his four children, the future of those closest to him depended on him. So we're asking people to look this year as we go through the celebration, 'What can you do?' 'Your future depends on you'," Dearbone said.
