The community joined Music Changing Lives, as they paid tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr on Friday, January 18, 2019 at Music Changing Lives, located in the Redlands Community Center 111 West Lugonia Ave. Redlands, CA 92374. The tribute celebration featured a portrait unveiling of Dr. King and several other influential leaders in American history.
Dr. King’s words and selfless actions continue to be an inspiration and never-ending call-to-action for tolerance and peace with each new generation. Now more than ever our community must take action and rise up together as one. For Dr. King said it best “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
Back in 2011, Music Changing Lives painted beautiful murals in the computer lab at the Redlands Center that featured Dr. King and tributes to the history of Redlands bringing the room to life while telling an important story. Sadly, a few years ago it was painted over to white walls. Music Changing Lives has been advocating for a replacement mural to be painted within the center and is excited to unveil the portraits this Friday.
Music Changing Lives’, "Common Vision for Changing Lives" portrait unveiling of Dr. King was not only a tribute to his legacy, but a tribute for several other influential leaders throughout history whose portraits were also be unveiled. Each historical figure that was chosen as part of the tribute, were selected because they shared a common vision for Changing Lives.
The artists commissioned to paint the portraits are Christopher Becktel (the original mural artist from 2011) and Phillip Figueroa. They both have painted four different canvases of the following featured leaders: Martin Luther King Jr., President John F. Kennedy, Cesar Chavez, Delores Huerta, President Lincoln, President Barack Obama, Israel Beal, and one to be announced at the celebration.
The tribute was hosted by Music Changing Lives in partnership with T-Mobile, Rendition Tattoo, Quality of Life and Second Baptist Church.