Needham Diversity Initiative

Highlights of the performances, readings, and remarks from the 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration, thanks to Ashley Julier of The Needham Channel.

The full program will begin airing in early February.

MLK Day 2026 Highlights A look at some of the performances, readings, and remarks from the 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration.

The Needham High School's Bomb Squad Step Team will be performing some of their step routines at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration on January 19th. But they are also the finale of the "We the People" portion of the program. They will be dancing to the song "Love Yourself", choreographed by Shaumba-Yandje Dibinga, the founding artistic director of OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center.

This is a Celebration you do not want to miss, filled with music, dance, spoken word, and large scale puppetry. Come to the Needham High School Auditorium, at Admiral Gracey Drive, at 9:30am for refreshments and socializing, and see this terrific program starting at 10am. It is hosted by the Needham Diversity Initiative, and co-sponsored by the Needham Human Rights Committee, Needham Interfaith Clergy Association, and Town of Needham: Public Schools.

www.NeedhamDiversity.org

Needham's 2026 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration is going to be a sight and sound experience that will be enjoyed by people of all ages! There will be:
• jazz, choral, rock, and gospel music;
• stepping and other African-inspired dances;
• the spoken word of Martin Luther King, Jr., poets, and original prose by Needham High School students;
• statements by community leaders; and
• creative large scale puppets made under the direction of visual arts teacher Kate Jellinghaus.

These are just some of the Deep Water Puppets that are part of the "We the People" portion of the program.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration will be on Monday, January 19th at the Needham High School Auditorium. The event is free and begins at 9:30am with refreshments in the foyer outside the auditorium, and the program starts promptly at 10am.

www.NeedhamDiversity.org

The variety of puppets created by Needham High School students, under the direction of visual arts teacher Kate Jellinghaus, are going to thrill the audience at the 2026 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration! These large scale puppets of woodland creatures are even more impressive when seen in person.

Come to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, January 19th at the Needham High School Auditorium. The event begins at 9:30am with refreshments in the foyer outside the auditorium, and the program begins promptly at 10am.

This free, family friendly event will have:
• Music from the NHS Jazz Quintet and NHS Chorale
• Spoken Word from Students in the Black Student Union
• Stepping by the Bomb Squad
• Puppets Created by NHS Students
• Dance Performances by OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center
• Brief Remarks from Clergy, Politicians, and Community Leaders
• Song by the Musicians in the Plugged In Band Program
• Audience-Sing-Along with with Brother Dennis Slaughter & Friends.

Enter the building from the outside steps on the Admiral Gracey Drive side of Needham High School. For handicap access, follow the signs by the gym entrance.

www.NeedhamDiversity.org