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Kids Celebrate Martin Luther King's Dream At Bruce Museum In Greenwich

GREENWICH, Conn. -- Students and families spent a day off from school on Monday at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and learning about the Civil Rights Movement.

Stamford third-grader Ashley shows off her quilt patch that depicts black and white children playing together at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich.

Stamford third-grader Ashley shows off her quilt patch that depicts black and white children playing together at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich.

Photo Credit: Casey Donahue
Members of the Bright Star Theatre Company perform samples of popular African-American music from throughout history.

Members of the Bright Star Theatre Company perform samples of popular African-American music from throughout history.

Photo Credit: Casey Donahue
Stamford second-grader Isabel drew a patch for the quilt that shows her dream of becoming a lifeguard.

Stamford second-grader Isabel drew a patch for the quilt that shows her dream of becoming a lifeguard.

Photo Credit: Casey Donahue
Students from the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford work on a quilt inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich.

Students from the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford work on a quilt inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich.

Photo Credit: Casey Donahue

The day's events featured family activities such as making a quilt in honor of King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Children from the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford, as well as other visitors, were able to draw their own dreams to contribute to the quilt.

"We like to do something where we can have people contribute to one big work of art," said Julia Harrington, manager of youth and family programs at the Bruce Museum. "It's something we can take out every year and keep adding to it. Every year this is one of the most popular family days."

Some of the kids, including Stamford third-grader Ashley, created drawings inspired by King's dream. She made a picture of black and white children playing together outside. Other children contributed drawings of their dreams from their own personal lives, such as sixth-grader Yeili, who wants to be a doctor; second-grader Isabel, who wants to be a lifeguard; and fourth-grader Evan, who wants to compete in the X Games.

Between working on their patches for the quilt, they were treated to a performance by the Bright Star Theatre Company. The performers took the students on a journey through the history of African-American music, starting with hymns and spirituals that slaves sang during the early days of America, and continued through the blues, ragtime, jazz and rock.

The performers dressed as famous characters from history -- Harriet Tubman, Scott Joplin, Billie Holiday and Little Richard -- and sang samples of many popular songs from different periods of music history, often inviting the audience to sing along.

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