18th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Northfield Community Celebration

The 18th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Northfield Community Celebration will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 16, in the Northfield High School auditorium.

The theme of the celebration is a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr., “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin, Program Director of the Rural Enterprise Center, will be the emcee for the program. John Fossum, a local attorney who has been involved in international human rights concerns will be the keynote speaker. His topic is “History and Overview of International Criminal Law, from the Holy Roman Empire to the International Criminal Court.”The invocation will be given by Dr. Anantanand Rambachan, Professor of Religion at St. Olaf College and Chair of the Department; the benediction by Carolyn Fure-Slocum, Carleton College Chaplain. Northfield City Councilor Betsey Buckheit will bring greetings from the City of Northfield.

The Northfield Human Rights Award will be given to the Catalyst Foundation, co-founded by Caroline Ticarro-Parker and Scott Parker, for their work in building communities in Vietnam to fight the human trafficking of children.. There will be entertainment by the Troubadours from the Northfield Youth Choirs and the Carleton Fall 2011 African Dance Class.

An open mike period will give audience members an opportunity to share a memory or vision inspired by Dr. King. The event is free and open to the public, and will be ASL interpreted. Refreshments will be served.