Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday & Black History Month

In honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday and Black History Month, the Alexandria Society for the Preservation of Black Heritage, Inc. and the Alexandria Black History Museum presented annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Poster Contest exhibition at the Durant Center (January 21 - February 29, 2008).

The Annual contest features posters by elementary students from Alexandria Public Schools. The contest celebrates not only the talent of Alexandria’s children, but the work of the Alexandria Society for the Preservation of Black Heritage, Inc. The first poster contest exhibition was presented in 1990.

Students submitting entries to the poster contest have an opportunity to win monetary prizes (first, second, and third place winners for each grade level) and participate in the Society’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday program. The award program honors Dr. King’s memory through recollections and songs.

The posters featured on this page reflect some of the best work from the 2007 Martin Luther King Contest. This marks the first time that work is being posted online and though not every grade level is represented, it is hoped that in the future all winning students, with parental permission, will exhibit their artwork online. We would like to thank all the students who entered this year's contest for their inspired work. Every student should be proud and feel like a winner because each has brought us closer to Dr. King's vision for a better tomorrow.

"Dream" by Isabella Graves 4th Grade, James K. Polk Elementary School   Hear Isabella's thoughts about her poster	"Help the Community " by Kennadi Norman 1st Grade, John Adams Elementary School Art Teacher: Ms. Norwood Homeroom Teacher: Mrs. Fanning   Hear what Kennadi likes about her poster
"Hide & Go Seek " by Olivia Porter 2nd Grade, Maury Elementary School Art Teacher: Mr. Chase   Hear what Dr. King means to Olivia	"Help the Homeless " by Lauren Stacey 1st Grade, John Adams Elementary School Art Teacher: Mrs. Norwood Homeroom Teacher: Ms. Fanning   Hear Lauren describe her poster

The Alexandria Society for the Preservation of Black Heritage, Inc.
The Alexandria Society for the Preservation of Black heritage was formed on August 6, 1980 at 1007 King Street in Alexandria. Virginia. It was originally conceived out of concern of Alexandria residents to preserve the old Alfred Street Baptist Church building, which is the oldest black Baptist Church still standing in the National Capitol area. The Society and the Alumni Association of the Parier-Gray High School jointly prevailed upon the City of Alexandria to enlarge and operate the Black History Resource Center (now the Black History Museum) in perpetuity, where tangible links to the history and contributions of Blacks would be preserved and promoted.

Goals
To support in all ways the city’s operation of the Black History Museum. To be an ongoing source of information to schools, individuals and other institutions that have interest in the historical contributions that blacks have made to the Alexandria and Virginia communities and serve as advocates and spoke persons for the promotion of the museum’s agenda.