Today is Martin Luther King Day.

King was the most famous advocate of peace and equality during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Reverend King came to Pella and spoke at Central College as part of his 1967 tour before his assassination the next year.

Barb Butler of the Central RED Society was there at King’s speech, and says he left his mark on Central with his visit to campus.

“I think it was a genuine tribute to him that we wanted him to come,” Butler says. “I was moved by his speech, and I know other students and other adults were too.”

Central College will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with special programs today.

Dianne Dillon-Ridgley, a recent director of Interface, Inc. will speak at 11 a.m. in Douwstra Auditorium. Her talk, “Sustainability, Justice and Hunger: Sowing a Brighter Future,” will address the moral obligation for economic and social justice. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will also be in attendance. The event is free and open to the public.

After the talk, members of the community are invited to help pack meals for the Iowans with Outreach Program from 12 to 2:30 p.m. in the Maytag Student Center. According to the organization, one person can package 200 meals in one hour. Meals packed at Central will be given to Pella Food Shelf, I Have a Dream Foundation and Central Iowa Shelter Veteran Services.

Guests are also invited to write letters to veterans and families.