The annual Martin Luther King Jr. assembly, held on January 16, encouraged students to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy, and the responsibility that his legacy places on them today. Organized by the Diversity Council, this year’s program centred on the theme “A Dream Bigger Than Him, Bigger Than Us,” emphasizing character, courage, and everyday action.
According to Diversity Council advisor Ms. Rachelle Mays, the theme was inspired by the national focus released every year by The Martin Luther King Jr. Center in Atlanta.
“A lot has changed since Dr. King’s time. But at the same time, we are still facing situations where everything is not fair and equal. It’s important for schools to continue honoring his message so that students can embrace different perspectives and truly dream a bigger dream,” Ms. Mays said.
Ms. Mays worked closely with members of the Diversity Council to shape an assembly that moved beyond a basic retelling of Dr. King’s life. Together, they selected speakers and included media elements that reflected the theme and encouraged deeper reflection. A video collage of speeches by Martin Luther King Jr. opened the assembly followed by a reading of the poem Community by juniors Caleb Arwood and Jada Leflour, reinforcing themes of unity and responsibility.
For Senior Liam Duffy, and Vice President of the Diversity Council, helping organize the assembly was an opportunity to engage more deeply with Dr. King’s message.
“Dr. King’s legacy is a constant reminder of how necessary empathy is for people of all backgrounds in our world today. I think being involved in the planning process allowed council members to think intentionally about how the assembly could resonate across grade levels,” Duffy noted.
The centerpiece of the assembly was a message from Dr. Joseph M. Lee, the North Regional Instructional Superintendent for Secondary Schools in Palm Beach County.
“I believe the most important thing about Dr. King’s life is that he taught us that in times of adversity, you have to be courageous and speak for the people who can’t speak for themselves. He also preached the idea that love, kindness, and respect for each other is the only way that we can truly move forward in a society. It’s so important to share that message because without his sacrifice so many people would not have the opportunities they have today,” Dr. Lee explained.
Throughout his speech, Dr. Lee returned to the idea that character is revealed in those moments that often go unnoticed.
“I believe that character is the most important thing a person can have because it means doing the right thing no matter who is looking. When I think about character I always go back to the shopping cart theory. The theory explains that two things can happen at the grocery store: you can either take your bags out of the cart and leave it or you can put the shopping cart back where it belongs. We should all strive to be the kind of people that put the shopping cart back and try to help the people around us. That’s exactly what Martin Luther King stood for and what I hope students took away from my message,” Dr. Lee expressed.
The assembly concluded with a call to action, highlighting opportunities to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service. Members of the Diversity Council D’Sani Escobido and Kamori Reddick shared information about the annual Martin Luther King 5K challenge, encouraging students, faculty and staff to participate or volunteer.
As students exited Benjamin Hall, the message remained clear: honoring Dr. King’s legacy extends far beyond a single day of remembrance. Through everyday choices, acts of service, and a commitment to character, students were reminded that the dream Dr. King envisioned lives on through the actions of the new generation.
