Hesston College’s annual week-long celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., Jan. 19 to 23, will have an intergenerational theme.

The week’s events, with the theme “Voices of Hope,” will bring together community institutions for people across generations, including the Intergenerational Child Development Center, Hesston High School, Hesston College, Hesston Area Senior Center and Schowalter Villa. All events are free and open to the public.

“We have tried to make Martin Luther King, Jr., Week events of interest to all ages throughout the community to connect groups and see what synergy might develop across town,” said organizer Dwight Roth, former Hesston College social science instructor. “From this could flow a new source of intergenerational energy that may benefit the entire community in service as seen in the vision of Dr. King.”

The event schedule for the week includes Hesston College chapel presentations on the theme “Voices of Hope.” Tony Brown, Hesston College faculty member and artist in residence, will present on the topic at chapel Monday, Jan. 19, and Evies and Sharon Cranford (Wichita, Kan.), college educators and community leaders will speak at Wednesday’s chapel, Jan. 21. Hesston College chapel is from 11 to 11:25 a.m., in the Hesston Mennonite Church sanctuary on the Hesston College campus.

“Beat the Winter Blues,” a community-wide event sponsored by the Hesston Foundation and Hesston Area Senior Center will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the Hesston High School Commons. The evening will feature a free dinner and music by the Hesston High Jazz Band, Hesston College Gospel Choir and A Terra Plana, a Wichita band that plays Brazilian jazz music known as “choro.” There will also be a scarf tree for people to take a scarf or bring a scarf for others to take to fight the cold.

A coffee house and open mic time will round out the week’s events at 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 23 at the Hesston College Larks Nest in Erb Hall.