Celebrating MLK Jr. with banquet Saturday plus more events for your calendar

NAACP Burke County celebrates the birthday and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Saturday through Monday.

The 34th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Banquet will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, at the Morganton Community House. The keynote speaker is Damon Hewitt, president and executive director for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Washington, D.C. Hewitt is the husband of Melissa Johnson, the daughter of Betsy Johnson and the late Walter Johnson of Morganton. Walter R. Johnson Middle School is named in her father’s honor.

MORE ABOUT THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER

One of the nation’s foremost experts in civil rights litigation and policy, Damon T. Hewitt has more than 20 years of experience, including prior leadership roles in the nonprofit, philanthropic, and public sectors.

Prior to joining Lawyers’ Committee, he was the inaugural executive director of the Executives’ Alliance for Boys and Men of Color and was the chief liaison from the philanthropic community to the White House on policy issues impacting young men of color. Hewitt previously worked for more than a decade as an attorney at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Hewitt joined the Lawyers’ Committee as Executive Vice President in 2019 and was named its President and Executive Director in 2021. Since then, he has led the organization victories on a range of critical issues, including affirmative action, race conscious programs, and diversity, equity and inclusion; Election Protection and voter disinformation; redistricting; fair housing; algorithmic bias and artificial intelligence; and police accountability.

Hewitt’s work has been widely in a number of news outlets, including the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Bloomberg News, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, and CBS. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Louisiana State University and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

The Community Worship Service is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 18, at 4 p.m. at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Valdese; Rev. Wesley Hendrix, pastor. The guest speaker will be Rev. Douglas B. Bynum, pastor of St. James AME Church, Asheville.

MORE ABOUT THE GUEST SPEAKER

Rev. Douglas Bradshaw Bynum is the youngest of two sons born to Steve and Faye Bynum in Hillsborough, North Carolina. From an early age, Rev. Bynum dedicated his life to Christ and spent three decades serving the AME Church in various roles from his home church of Mt Zion AME Church in Hillsborough to the global connectional church.

On Oct. 15, 2021, Rev. Bynum was ordained as an itinerant deacon in the AME Church by Bishop James L. Davis and officially appointed pastor of Mount Zion AME Church in Martinsville, Va., where he faithfully served for three years.

On Saturday, May 25, 2024, Rev. Bynum transferred to the Western North Carolina Conference and was appointed as the 39th pastor of the historic St. James AME Church in Asheville. He is currently in his second year of pastoral ministry at St. James, continuing his commitment to spiritual leadership and community service within the AME tradition.

Four months after arriving in Asheville, Hurricane Helene devastated the Western North Carolina mountains, leaving thousands in need and a community without drinkable water for more than 50 days. Rev. Bynum led St. James and the East End/Valley Street neighborhood to stand up one of the first community response efforts in Asheville within the first 48 hours. St James went on to serve the community with hot meals, hosting medical clinics, debris removal crews, and an 8-week Point of Distribution with pantry items, toiletries, cleaning supplies, water, baby, and geriatric supplies, and more.

Over the years, Rev. Bynum has affiliated with AME congregations in North Carolina, Colorado, and New York, and served the denomination on all levels of the YPD (Young People’s and Children’s Division of the Women’s Missionary Society). He is a graduate of the Long Island University - School of Education (MSEd); the National Theatre Conservatory at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (MFA); and North Carolina Central University (BA) with honors and is currently pursuing an Mdiv degree from Shaw University School of Divinity. Professionally, Rev. Bynum is a former educator and Mathematics Instructional Coach and Consultant with the National Training Network where he supported schools across the Atlantic Seaboard.

NAACP Burke County will conclude the celebration with an MLK Oratorical Contest on Monday, Jan. 19, at 10 a.m. at Willowtree AME Church, Rev. Anthony Radcliff, pastor. Students in middle school grades (6-8) and high school grades (9-12) are invited and encouraged to participate in the Oratorical Contest. Tickets to the banquet are $45.

For more information, call President Alicia Connelly, 828-430-0527; Membership Chair Mary Wright, 828-403-7486; or Banquet Chair Barbara Myers, 828-205-7405.

MORE EVENTS

Join Thornwell Books on Thursday, Jan. 22, for the Author Talk & Book Signing with Gene Nichol. Nichol is a North Carolina law professor, commentator, and author. He is the former director of the UNC Poverty Center. His new book, "Now What? How North Carolina Can Blaze a Progressive Path Forward," was published in October 2025 and addresses the politics peculiar to the Tarheel State. His other books include “Lessons from North Carolina: Race, Religion, Tribe, and the Future of America” and “Faces of Poverty in North Carolina: Stories from Our Invisible Citizens.” For those who are dissatisfied or confused about the state of North Carolina politics, this is a must-attend event! Free. 6-8 p.m. 202 S. Sterling St.

On Saturday, Jan. 17, join DeAnna Steiner at Burke Arts Council for a Puffy Ceramic Hearts Workshop. Participants will learn how to use a “drop” mold to create the hearts, select from a collection of texture rollers to decorate the hearts, and finish the hearts in their choice of glaze colors. Your puffy hearts will be ready for pick up just in time for Valentine's Day. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 506 S. Sterling St., Morganton.

Annual X-Mas tree Burning at Fonta Flora Whippoorwill Farm is Saturday, Jan. 17. Beer-poking demo starts at 2 p.m. Tree burn starts at 4 p.m. until the trees run out. You can bring your tree on the day of the event. This event is weather-dependent, so stay tuned and cross yer fingers for minimal wind and raindrops. 2-8 p.m. 6751 NC-126, Nebo.

The Rock School Arts Foundation presents Jane Best, Hannah Hubbard, and Krista Skelton. Exhibitions opened yesterday and run through Friday, Feb. 13, in the foundation’s galleries located inside the Old Rock School in Valdese. You may view their works at RSAF website: www.rockschoolartgalleries.com. The free artists’ reception will be tomorrow, Sunday, Jan. 18. 2-4 p.m. 400 Main St. W, Valdese.

Anya Hinkle with Libby Weitnauer perform at The White Horse in Black Mountain tomorrow, Sunday, Jan. 18. Born in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, Anya Hinkle’s music is steeped in the tones of folk and bluegrass and seasoned by travels across the world with vivid storytelling, vibrant musicianship, and arresting honesty. Anya won the Merlefest Chris Austin song contest and was a finalist in the Hazel Dickens songwriting competition in 2019 for her song “Ballad of Zona Abston,” and was runner-up in the International Acoustic Music Awards in 2022 for “Hills of Swannanoa.” Anya tours nationally in the U.S. as well as extensively in Japan and Europe. Her most recent album, “Oceania,” was recorded at Citizen Vinyl in Asheville with storied producer Kevin Moloney (U2, Sinéad O’Connor), featuring legendary Irish guitarist John Doyle and slide guitar master Billy Cardine. 7-9 p.m. 105c Montreat Road, Black Mountain.

A community mural project that brought artists and residents together across Morganton will be celebrated Thursday, Jan. 22, with a documentary premiere highlighting the relationships and collaboration behind the effort. “Murals for Morganton” documents the mural series spearheaded by TOSS and completed in 2025. Created by Brandon Thrower, this film reflects the relationships, creativity, and collective effort that made this work possible. The mural project included community input sessions, public paint parties, visiting artists, and support from local property owners who provided walls for the work. Doors open at 5 p.m. with a reception, followed by the screening at 6 p.m. and then a panel discussion. RSVP at tosstudio.org/mural by Jan. 19. Free. Western Piedmont Community College, Leviton Auditorium in Moore Hall, 1001 Burkemont Ave., Morganton.

On Friday, Jan. 23, violinist Grace Anderson and cellist Jennifer Curtis play live at The Burke Arts Council. From Budapest to Beirut, you will enjoy a boundary-crossing performance for violin and cello. Experience the raw folk energy of Kodály and Handel-Halvorsen alongside the iconic melodies of Lebanese legend Fairouz and the Mexican classic Cucurrucuú Paloma. To learn more, please visit www.burkearts.org. 5:30-8:30 p.m. 506 S. Sterling St., Morganton.