By Heather Wirick, Staff Writer and Kyle Hammerness, Features Editor
Students and elementary school students attend Dream the Future: Contribute to a Mural! event on Jan. 30, 2023 (Photo courtesy of the Eisenhower Institute).
On Monday, Jan. 30, Gettysburg College hosted elementary-age students from the greater Gettysburg area to add to a community dream mural in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. in CUB Junction. The event was sponsored by The Center for Public Service, the Eisenhower Institute, the Sunderman Conservatory, and Adams County Art Council.
Prior to the event, Professor Buhrer painted a bare cherry tree on the Junction’s windows. The National Mall in Washington DC is home to the memorial statue for MLK and adorned with cherry trees, making the mural a fitting homage to the civil rights icon. The driving factor of this exhibit is the sense of community collaboration and betterment, participants would make a cherry blossom out of paper and write their dreams down. From there, their dream blossom would be attached to the mural. Members of the Adams County community were invited to participate before the beginning of the spring semester.
Executive Director of the Eisenhower Institute Tracie Potts hosted students from the El Centro program, their tutors, and other Gettysburg students at the memorial event.
Potts opened the event by asking the audience what they knew about MLK. Amongst scattered answers from the kids, it was mentioned that he had a dream. From here, members of the Sunderman Conservatory introduced the audience to “We Shall Overcome,” a melody that began as a civil rights anthem, but is now used globally as a symbol of strength and perseverance.
After the sing-a-long, there was a group discussion about individual dreams. Some dreamt of going home, some mentioned equality, and some simply dream of sharing their toys. “MLK- The King and his Dream” was shown to the audience, a brief video documenting the biography of MLK and his influence in the Civil Rights Movement. This introduced the kids to driving factors of the civil rights movement, explaining the motives behind protests, and how the world that we know had been shaped.
With this preceding information, Professor Buhrer took the stage, introducing her work and the meaning behind it. Students were given the materials to make the blossoms and write their dreams down with their tutors. Once completed, each child was given a moment to choose where they wanted to see their dream and attach it to the mural. Students and staff were also welcome to contribute.
Reflecting on the event, Potts stated, “MLK is more than just one day – it’s a mindset of service, and thinking deeply about our dreams for ourselves, our families, our community, and our nation. I loved hosting the kids on campus. They have so much energy! Their thoughts are so pure and full of hope. Every time I walk in CUB and see our tree ‘blossoming’ it will remind me that their dreams are our future.”
The mural is on open display for members of the campus and will remain on display in CUB Junction through the month of February.
