UPDATE: In order to reduce the risk for those in attendance, anyone attending the MLK Day event is required to wear a mask. For those unable to attend in person, a live-stream option via Facebook will be available starting at 4:00 p.m. via the WDM Chamber of Commerce Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WDMChamber.

 The City of West Des Moines and the WDM Human Rights Commission are honored to host a special community celebration entitled “Strength to Love” on Monday, January 17, to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This free MLK Day event will be held at the MidAmerican Energy Company RecPlex, 6500 Grand Avenue, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. All individuals and families are welcome to attend, and appetizers and beverages will be provided. You’re also welcome to join us for a pre-event Roundtable Discussion from 3:00 p.m. – 3: 45 p.m. Please see registration details below.

MLK Day Schedule:

• Welcome Remarks by Jay Byers, CEO/President of the Greater Des Moines Partnership
• Proclamation presentation by Mayor Russ Trimble
• Youth Scholarship and Community Leadership Awards Presentation
• A Dance Performance of ‘I Can’t Breathe’ by Hadley Harvey from Devine Dance Studio
• Closing Keynote Remarks by Audrey Kennis, WDM Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

DEI Director Audrey Kennis, who will be delivering the closing keynote remarks at the event, is encouraging everyone to come out on January 17 and join the community in constructing a vision of liberation through love in action.

“Let us honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King by coming together to promote the Beloved Community he so poignantly envisioned,” she said. “Let us not passively sit on the sidelines but be the change we hope to see.”

Roundtable Discussion
Registration is required for a pre-event Roundtable Discussion from 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. that will provide participants with an opportunity for deep-dive conversations on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) topics. To register for the Roundtable Discussion, visit www.DSMpartnership.com/events.

Keynote Speaker Bio
Audrey Kennis is the inaugural Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the City of West Des Moines. Originally from Denver, Co., she moved to Iowa for college. Audrey holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and Philosophy, an M.Ed. in Education, and is completing a Masters in Community and Regional Planning. Previously she worked at Iowa State University, with over a decade of experience in recruitment, retention, and multicultural programming.

Special accommodations during the event
Anyone needing special accommodations or language assistance is encouraged to email Allison Ullestad at allison.ullestad@wdm.iowa.gov.

Strength to Love is sponsored by the City of West Des Moines, the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, West Des Moines Community Schools, Des Moines University, the West Des Moines Historical Society and the Greater Des Moines Partnership.