Needham Diversity Initiative

01/31/2026

Reminder that the Needham Diversity Initiative dedicates all donations received in January to the Needham High School's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Make your donation TODAY, before 11:59pm!

Please consider giving generously towards this scholarship by going to the NDI website at www.needhamdiversity.org/donate -or- scanning the QR code -or- mailing a check to Needham Diversity Initiative, Box 920086, 1150 Great Plain Avenue, Needham, MA 02492-0086 .

www.needhamdiversity.org

01/24/2026

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.

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

01/21/2026

Thank you Needham Local and The Needham Channel for covering the Martin Luther King, Jr Day Celebration !

Arts & Entertainment Town Celebrations & Events Needham Lifts Voices, Spirits for MLK Day Ceremony Cameron Morsberger January 19, 2026 • In commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his enduring legacy, Needham students and residents channeled their tributes through the arts on Monday. The f...

01/19/2026

TODAY ~ Needham's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration starts soon!

Thank you to the DPW and NHS Custodian for clearing the parking lot, walkways, and stairs at the high school.

www.NeedhamDiversity.org

01/18/2026

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

01/18/2026

Brother Dennis Slaughter has been part of Needham's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration for many years, enthusiastically playing the piano and singing, and getting the audience to their feet to sing along to "We Shall Overcome" and "Lift Every Voice and Sing". He believes gospel music is a source of encouragement and hope, especially in troubled times, and serves as the artistic director of the Boston Pops Gospel Choir and the music director at Parkway United Methodist Church in Milton. At this year's event, he will be joined by 3 singers and a saxophonist.

Come celebrate at this family friendly and free event on Monday, January 19th, from 9:30-11:30am, at the Needham High School Auditorium.

www.NeedhamDiversity.org

01/17/2026

Needham's Celebration and Observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day will be on Monday, January 19th. Doors open to the Needham High School Auditorium at 9:30am, with refreshments in the foyer area, and the program will be from 10-11:30am.

A portion of the program called "We the People" honors the legacy of Dr. King, Jr. during the 250th anniversary of our nation. These puppets created by Needham High School students celebrate the Naturalists. The 'Silence of the Night' puppets are made from recycled and dyed lampshades, found branches, and fairy lights. Modeled from geometric designs of animal heads covered by papier-mâché are the 'Into the Woods' puppets.

www.NeedhamDiversity.org

01/17/2026

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

01/16/2026

George Goneconto, affectionately known as Mr. G when he taught at the Hillside and Williams Elementary Schools, retired from the Needham school system in 2024. He will be the percussionist for the puppeteers during a portion of the program called "We the People" at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration.

The Needham Diversity Initiative welcomes the community to this annual event, which will have a collaborative performance of music, dance, spoken word, and large scale puppetry between Needham Public School students and the OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center. There will also be brief comments from local leaders, a performance by the Plugged In Band Program, and music from Brother Dennis Slaughter and Friends, that will include an audience sing-along.

Come to the 2026 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, January 19th, from 9:30-11:30am, at the Needham High School Auditorium.

www.NeedhamDiversity.org

01/16/2026

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

01/15/2026

Needham’s 2026 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration was covered by the Needham Observer.

by Jen Bello - Using their creativity to build large sculptures out of papier-mache and found objects, Needham High School students will bring their artworks to life as outsized puppets during the town’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration Jan. 19. The event, which will be held at the NHS audit...

01/15/2026

Listen Up - You won't want to miss the 2026 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration in Needham, MA!

Under the creative direction of Kate Jellinghaus, a visual arts teacher at Needham High School, students have been sculpting paper mache objects, such as these ears and big mouth megaphone. They will be part of a collaborative performance of song, dance, spoken word, and large scale puppetry between Needham Public School students and the OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center. Their portion of the program is entitled “We the People”, which honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the 250th anniversary of our nation.

Come to this family friendly and free event on Monday, January 19th, from 9:30-11:30am, at the Needham High School Auditorium.

www.NeedhamDiversity.org