MLK reading brings kids together

  • Published
  • By Kevin Gaddie
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
The Martin Luther King, Jr. observance committee members read a story and led an arts and crafts activity with children at two Child Development Centers here Jan. 16.

At each center, 80 kids, ages four and five, gathered  to hear a tale about the civil rights leader’s early experiences with racial injustice and inequality.


The story began King’s journey to champion justice and equality for all Americans throughout his lifetime.

Senior Airman Danielle Lord and Airman 1st Class Kryzia Aranda, 96th Medical Group members, read at CDC III.

“I love kids,” Lord said.  “It was a lot of fun to read to them.”

Aranda said she hoped the children learned from the message.

“It’s not about the color of your skin, but who you are inside,” said the Batangas, Philippines native.

Next, the children drew outlines of their hands on colored paper.  They cut out the tracings and colored them with markers.

The individual artworks were then pasted together on a piece of round paper to symbolize unity and togetherness, themes King shared across America.

“The arts and crafts project allowed the children to work together to accomplish a common goal," said Tamika McKinney, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the event coordinator..  "I hope they saw how working together can accomplish beautiful things.”