The students, parents and employees at Memorial High School in Port Arthur and Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Beaumont are gearing up for a visit from the son of late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King III will greet students in a 1:30 p.m. assembly on Wednesday, Oct. 3, at the Beaumont campus.

“We are so excited about Mr. King’s plans to share some of his wisdom with our students,” David Harris, principal of the middle school, said. “What an honor for our school. His visit will be a big boost to King students who have an academic motto this year of ‘Achieving the Dream.’ Our students are making welcome banners, honing their presentation and performance skills and readying to hear words of empowerment from Mr. King.”

Martin Luther King, III, is the eldest of the King sons and founder and chairman of the non-profit organization Realizing the Dream, Inc. The organization promotes justice, equality and the ‘beloved’ community through initiatives in economic development, non-violence and conflict resolution training, as well as targeted leadership development for youth.

When King stops by the two local campuses, he will give his audience a glimpse of Realizing the Dream. Leadership development for young people through coaching, trainings, academics and mentoring; the development of a youth governance council and ambassadorships are just a few of strategies utilized by Realizing the Dream.

According to King, “Our youth program is aimed at providing a solid ethical foundation and practical skills, as well as challenging learning opportunities for youth to not only engage in the social and economic systems that govern America, but engage in the systems as active decision-makers in an interconnected world.”

King’s visit is sponsored by Hargie Faye Savoy and the Martin Luther King Support Group of Southeast Texas. His visit to Southeast Texas includes a 10 a.m. stop at Memorial High School in Port Arthur and 2:30 p.m. visit to children at the Al Price Center of the Texas Youth Commission. He will also meet with members of the MLK Support group who are planning the annual Southeast Texas celebration of the late Dr. King.

“We are honored with young Martin’s visit,” Savoy said. “He will inspire our youth and enlighten so many others about poverty in America, youth development and more.”