MLK Coalition and PUSD gear up for a new year (L-R: Dr. Jackie Jacobs, Dr. Brian McDonald, Tom Selinske, Dr. Ayesha Randall, Dr. David Jacobs).
The Martin Luther King Community Coalition officially kicked off the new 2014-2015 Essay and Art Contest year at the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) with new interim superintendent, Dr. Brian McDonald and PUSD Board Member, Tom Selinske.
Dr. David and Jackie Jacobs presented the new 2014-2015 MLK Community Coalition Essay and Art Contest packet. They also gave a report on the previous year, explained the processes and procedures of the contest, discussed recent updates to the contest packet, and unveiled a new contest category.
This year the contest packet is available in both paper and electronic formats and contains an updated book and multimedia resource list that includes hyperlinks to the Pasadena Public Library online catalog.
Dr. Jackie Jacobs, president of MLK Community Coalition, also shared that in addition to the traditional visual arts competition, a performing arts division will be added–for dance, music (vocal and instrumental), spoken word, and poetry submissions–and slated to begin in the 2015-2016 academic year. While the logistical details are being developed this year, the new art chair will inform community organizations, churches and other groups of the added category and invite musical ensembles, vocalists, and choirs from local public and private schools to perform at this year’s 2014-2015 series of activities, including the annual MLK Day Celebration at Jackie Robinson Park, to showcase what is to come in the future.
Both the interim superintendent and board member expressed their support and continued commitment to the annual Pasadena Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay and Art Contest and holiday activities. They will be following through with distributing the information to the schools and principals, encouraging the music departments in the schools to perform in the MLK holiday events, and displaying the winning art in the Pasadena Unified School District office and website.
The MLK Community Coalition is currently seeking funding from individuals and organizations that are interested in supporting the new performing arts divison of the contest. For more information, please contact Dr. Ayesha Randall at [email protected].
