SOMERVILLE – Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, the Health and Human Services Department and the Somerville Public Schools announce the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration event, entitled, “Growing Our Community,” to be held on Monday, Jan. 15, in observance of national Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The annual event will be held at the East Somerville Community School, beginning at 10 a.m. The celebration will be emceed by Marcus Santos, and features musical performances by El Sistema and the World Percussion Ensemble as well as readings by winners of the student essay contest.

This year, the Somerville Human Rights Commission will be recognizing the work of the late Mr. Ralph Hergert. For eleven years, Mr. Hergert served as the Director of Human Services for the City of Somerville. In this role, he helped create the Human Rights Commission, as well as the City’s Martin Luther King Jr., Celebration.

The event is organized in cooperation with the City of Somerville’s Health and Human Services Department, Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Somerville Public Schools, and the Somerville Human Rights Commission.

For more information, please contact Nency Salamoun at 617-625-6600 ext. 2323, or NSalamoun@somervillema.gov.

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Nency Salamoun, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or NSalamoun@somervillema.gov.