Amid growing divisions and the persistent socio-economic challenges of poverty and racism, the Committee of Greater Attleboro honored Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.
This year’s theme, “It Starts with Me: Shifting the Culture through Nonviolent Action,” emphasized the power of individual actions in fostering peace and justice. Attendees were invited to reflect on how they could contribute to societal change by embodying Dr. King’s principles of love, justice, and peace.
The municipal program at City Hall began with Ethel Garvin welcoming community members and introducing Attleboro Municipal Council President James DiLisio. DiLisio emphasized that education is not a barrier to kindness or social change, urging attendees to consider how they could serve their neighbors in need. He shared Dr. King’s poignant question: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?”
State Rep. Adam Scanlon highlighted the pressing need for economic justice, lamenting the concentration of wealth and the lack of affordable housing.
“Today, there is too much money in the hands of too few… we can do so much better as a society to make investments in affordable housing,” he said.
Scanlon called on the community to take action collectively, emphasizing that meaningful change begins with local efforts.
State Rep. Jim Hawkins echoed Scanlon’s concerns about housing accessibility, underscoring the importance of state-level efforts to ensure affordability.
“We need to make housing more available for everyone, on a state level,” said Hawkins.
State Sen. Paul Feeney commended the city’s Department of Public Works for clearing the roads after a snowstorm, making the gathering possible. He spoke passionately about the power of community, saying, “I trust that the power of our gathering at City Hall has a comforting effect on you… in coming together and lifting our voices in song and of smiling and loving… just those simple acts, when done collectively, can warm us.” Quoting Dr. King, Feeney reminded attendees: “Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”
Feeney concluded by emphasizing the role of individuals in driving change, stating, “The ability to change the face of things… to move hearts and minds… to dream, is only achievable through the people…The obligation is ours.”
The community transitioned to the Centenary United Methodist Church for an interfaith service filled with uplifting music, inspiring words and a keynote presentation by the Rev. Jeffrey L. Brown, associate pastor of Twelfth Baptist Church and founder of Rebuilding Every Community Around Peace (RECAP) in Boston.
Rev. Brown’s powerful speech recounted his experiences discussing and combating violence in Boston during the 1990s. He described how communities at the time saw violence as inevitable.
“We didn’t speak of how to overcome violence; the focus was on coping with it,” he reflected.
The escalating violence, particularly among youth, led him to a profound realization.
“If I really wanted change in my neighborhood, I couldn’t do the work inside the church,” he said. “I needed to meet the youth where they were.”
Determined to make a difference, Rev. Brown and his fellow clergy ventured out at night, walking the streets of Dorchester and engaging with young people caught in cycles of violence.
“I’ve had some of the most profound conversations… at 1 a.m. on the streets with kids who were playing a dangerous game… because they had no other choices,” he recounted.
His address tied powerfully to the day’s theme: “It starts with me.” Rev. Brown reminded attendees that lasting change begins with individuals taking action and stepping outside their comfort zones to engage directly with those in need.
Half of the donations collected during the service will be directed to Attleboro Angels, an organization dedicated to supporting those in need, in honor of this day of service and Dr. King’s enduring legacy.
Through heartfelt speeches, community reflections, and a shared commitment to nonviolence, the City of Attleboro celebrated Dr. King’s vision, inspiring all to take steps toward a more just and equitable future.
