Maltz Museum to present a free MLK Day program

Staff report

BEACHWOOD

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter,” said Martin Luther King Jr.

The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, 2929 Richmond Road, will recognize those who make their voices heard by speaking out on critical social issues with a daylong community celebration titled “Hear Our Voices: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.” The free event will be Jan. 19 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Hear Our Voices” will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a tribute to civil-rights advocate and longtime Cleveland Call & Post executive editor Connie Harper.

The discussion on the importance of black voices in the media will be moderated by Sonali Wilson (general counsel, Cleveland State University) and include panelists Sheila Wright (executive director, Cleveland NAACP), Constance Haqq (Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District) and James W. Wade III (reporter, Call & Post).

At 1 p.m., museum- goers can hear an inspiring spoken-word performance by Aaron Levy Samuels, a Pushcart-nominated poet, TEDx speaker and facilitator of critical identity discussions.

The Cave Canem Fellow and nationally acclaimed performer was raised in Providence, R.I., by a Jewish mother and a black father.

His debut collection of poetry, “Yarmulkes & Fitted Caps,” was released last year. A post-oration conversation with Samuels will touch on social inequality, identity and “the multiplicities we all contain within.”

At 3 p.m., the public is invited to sing for social change with Cleveland Blues Society founder and musician Bob Frank.

The guitarist for Blue Lunch, who is also a solo artist, will apply his knowledge of country, blues and bluegrass music in performing a retrospective of protest songs.

For information, call 216-593-0575, or go to maltzmuseum.org.