Entitled “Equality, Justice and Unity,” the community focused the event on celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.

The community-wide “Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration” took place Monday at 6 p.m. at the Ames Middle School.

The event began with the pledge of allegiance led by the Boy Scouts Troop #196 and Girls Scouts Troop #1215.

Vanessa Baker-Latimer, emcee of the event and housing coordinator of the city of Ames welcomed the audience by discussing how King’s nonviolent approach brought people together.

“Tonight’s event honors and celebrates what he fought for and what he died for,” Baker-Latimer said.

Rick Sanders, chair of the Story County Board of Supervisors, greeted those in attendance by detailing his experience of growing up in Birmingham, Alabama during the 1960s and 1970s.

Sanders said King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” written in 1963 while King was imprisoned during protests, has always stood out to him.

“It struck me then as a youngster, strikes me now as a foundation,” Sanders said.

Sanders concluded his address by saying he was an ally in the quest to keep King’s dream alive.

Newly-elected Ames Mayor John Haila directed his address to young people in attendance and implored them to learn about King and learn from history.

The first musical act was an ensemble choir of kindergartners to fifth graders from Meeker Elementary School in Ames.

Choir director Charles Grim told the audience the performance was important to the children and due to limited days, there weren’t many rehearsals to rehearse the two songs.

The songs performed by children were “Martin Luther King” and “We are the People of the 21st Century.”

Anne Owens, executive director of the Volunteer Center of Story County, presented a Day of Service video, highlighting service work done in Ames and all of Story County in the past year.

Heather Withers, Ames resident, was awarded the Ames Humanitarian Award by John Klaus, chair of the Ames Human Relations Commission. Withers was honored for welcoming refugees to Ames and being an ally to marginalized communities in Ames.

“While he [King] was tough on issues, he was tough on love,” Withers said as the reasoning for her community work.

The second musical performance was Pastor James Huey of Phoenix, Arizona. The pastor had been involved in his church all his life and began his musical career at age 12. At age 13, Huey wrote his first song and gained notoriety when he wrote “When I Think About the Lord.”

When introducing him, Baker-Latimer said his song is one sang in churches across the nation.

For the celebration, Huey performed a song he had written about King specifically for the event.

The keynote speaker for the evening was Judge Romonda D. Belcher. Belcher was appointed to district associate judge on Aug. 20, 2010, becoming the first female African-American judge in the state of Iowa. Currently, Belcher presides over juvenile court dependency and delinquency cases.

“I’m one of those that carry on Dr. King’s legacy,” Belcher said.

Belcher said even though progress had been made especially for African-Americans, there was still a need to keep King’s dream a reality. She said people have to actualize King’s dream.

Belcher said everyone plays a role in actualizing King’s dream, and that by living the golden rule, which states “to treat those the way you want to be treated,” everyone can achieve playing the role.

“It’s important we establish relationships with one another,” Belcher said. “We may look differently on the outside, on the inside we all want the same things.”

Belcher touched on the importance of public services such as law enforcement, higher education and legislation, reflecting the people they serve.

Belcher credited her beginning in a small town with a population of less than 3600 in North Carolina with helping her be the woman she is today.

At a young age, Belcher knew she wanted to be a judge and that judges could make a difference.

Growing up in the South, Belcher said she remembered seeing how people were treated differently. While in school, Belcher said her white classmates embraced her as either the only or one of the few black students in her classes, the classmates treated other black students differently.

Belcher attended Howard University in Washington D.C. for her undergraduate studies and still had the passion to become a judge.

Belcher said attending Howard helped her become a confident woman.

She chose Drake University in Des Moines to pursue her law degree and credits Drake in preparing her legally.

“I stayed because I knew there were many opportunities for me in the state of Iowa,” Belcher said, crediting her passion to want to make a difference in a community.

Belcher told her audience her mantra of “know your purpose, follow your passion and live your dream.”

She credits her mantra in her belief of helping others find dreams and helping them accomplish them, as well.

“Everyone must have a voice in making a difference and actualizing Dr. King’s dream,” Belcher said in closing.

To close the program, Huey returned and lead everyone in unison, the spiritual hymn, “We Shall Overcome.”