The City of Ames will host “Equality, Justice and Unity: Ames Community MLK Day Celebration” on Monday at Ames Middle School to celebrate the life of American Baptist minister and activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event will run from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

The Ames Human Relations Commission, in collaboration with several community organizations, will host the event. The night will start with social time from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with music provided by the Ames High School Band.

A program will follow from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 pm. It will feature community groups presenting songs and speeches in homage of the life of King. Daniel Spikes, assistant professor in the School of Education, will be the keynote speaker of the night. The human relations commission will also present the winner of its annually recognized humanitarian award.

“We want to project the future for generations to come,” said John Clause, a member of the Ames Human Relations Commission. “The fundamental premise of all American people is unity. It is what Dr. King stood and worked for.” 

Victoria Knight, another member of the commission, weighed in further on King’s legacy.

“People still believe in change,” Knight said. “In bringing the community together, Dr. King stood to change the culture, and that is what coming together as a community will promote.”

In the event of severe weather, the celebration will be moved to Jan. 23.