Queensbury High School student Meredith Clark wants people to continue to make Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. proud.
“Each and every day,” according to the poem she wrote.
Meredith will read her original poem during the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration “Expressing The Dream Through The Arts” at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15 at Christ Church United Methodist in Glens Falls. 
To prepare, Meredith, 15, researched the civil rights leader’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, delivered on Aug. 28, 1963 on the steps in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
Monday, Jan. 16 marks the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., who was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968.
“I read his speech over, and I felt how much our community needs to be reminded of it and how much we can still improve,” Meredith said. “So just spreading the word with my poem hopefully can keep encouraging equality.”
Her poem titled “Keep Dreaming!” reminds people that Dr. King’s words are still relevant today for women, the disabled and for the LGBTQ+ community. The poem mentions the mass shooting in Buffalo’s black community, the shooting at a gay club in Colorado Springs, the killing of George Floyd and the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
English teacher Lucyna Prostko encouraged the 10th grade student to submit her poem.
“Her work displays both her creativity in poetic form and her strong concern for inclusion and equality — the ideals representing Dr. King’s legacy,” Prostko said.
The budding poet said is excited about reciting her poem at the event.
“I’ve always liked journaling, so for me, it’s just a different way to journal,” she said, “to be able to write in a different style but talk about different things.”
Keep Dreaming!
By: Meredith Clark
In 1963, Dr. King
Said what the world needed,
“I have a dream”
It is 2023,
And those words are still relevant today
African American
Women
The disabled
The LGBTQ+ community
Dr. King said “he wanted everyone to be equal”
Today
We can never forget
The mass shooting in Buffalo’s black community
The open fire at a gay club in Colorado Springs
The killing of George Floyd
The shooting death of Trayvon Martin
King dreamed of “little black boys and black girls”
Joining hands
“With little white boys and white girls
As sisters and brothers”
Today
As we walk around
Hand in hand
I believe we would make Dr. King proud in how far we have come
However, we need to keep on striving towards his dream of
Equality
All different
Races
Religions
Cultures
And genders are allowed in
Schools
Buses
Trains
Stores
Jobs
Water fountains
And technology
Are all shared
As we keep speaking the words
“I have a dream”
Keep dreaming!
Every day
No matter who they are,
Respect them,
Spread love to them
Like giving your loved one a hug
And remind them to make Dr. King proud
each and every day