Carmaletta Williams was too young to walk with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during a march, but now the “too-old-to-announce” grandmother seizes every opportunity to participate in socially conscious events like Kansas University’s candlelight vigil in honor of the civil rights icon.

“I’m here for my children and my grandchildren,” she said. “They need to see me be active.”

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Williams and around 125 people gathered Monday evening in the rotunda of KU’s Strong Hall. A university a cappella group began the ceremony with several songs before members of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity addressed the crowd on the day’s significance.

People slowly shuffled through the hall’s front door where they were handed a lit candle, and, in groups of three, they slowly marched east to the Kansas Union, singing along the way.

Among the singing masses were Leticia Garcia, her two sons, Julian and Diego, and their family friend Ellington Presley.

Leticia Garcia said she wanted to bring her children to the vigil to help acknowledge King’s dream.

“(Martin Luther King Day) is about when we celebrate his life and what he did for America,” Julian Garcia said.

Just as important as the celebration is the work yet to be done, Leticia Garcia said.

“I want my children to see the progress that has been made, but also how they can be agents of change, too,” she said. “And they can follow in Martin Luther King’s steps to make a difference.”

At the Lawrence Public Library, another group of people were striving to make a difference during the holiday. Through a partnership with United Way, the library hosted a service day. There, volunteers crafted scarves and Valentine’s Day cards throughout the day.

The scarves will be donated, along with hats and gloves, to Lawrence families in need, while the cards will be given to home-bound seniors on Valentine’s Day to remind them they’re not alone, said Jeni Daley, the library’s Marketing Coordinator.

“We’re one of the few community organizations that are open on Martin Luther King Day, and we felt it was important to take advantage of that and represent the things he would have wanted,” Daley said.

Along with the volunteer activities, the library also addressed civil rights issues with programs like “Speak Up” and “We are the Solution,” Daley said. Throughout the afternoon, discussions were held on racism in today’s society, how it can affect younger generations and how to speak out against discrimination.

During a day dedicated to celebration, remembrance and awareness, Leticia Garcia said she hopes the events make an impact on her children.

“There is power in education, especially with people of color,” she said. “I want my children to embrace and understand how they can create change.”

Whether for her children, her grandchildren or the children of others, Williams said it’s important to understand the history behind the civil rights movements, but it’s also important to understand the movement continues to this day.

“They need to know it’s not too late, it’s not just history, it’s all ongoing, it’s active, it’s dynamic,” she said.