City celebrates life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
City of Dallas sent this bulletin at 01/07/2016 04:08 PM CST FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jan. 7, 2015 Natashia Cooper- MLK Community Center
(214) 670-8418
City celebrates life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Now the Largest MLK Celebration in North Texas
What: The 34th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration will kick off on Friday, Jan. 15 with a series of events honoring King’s life and legacy. Special events on Friday include the MLK Celebration Fair, a candlelight ceremony, hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, and an open house event by the Dallas Civil Rights Museum at the MLK Center.
On Saturday Jan. 16 there is a formal awards banquet and silent auction at the Dallas Hyatt Regency hotel. This year’s Keynote Speaker is Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant, renowned author, political activist, and leader of the Empowerment Temple AME Church. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Dr. King’s Dream = Equality for All.”
On Sunday, Jan. 17 Be Covered Texas is bringing its “Super Sunday” event to 100 churches in the Dallas area. The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL) will host its 32nd Annual Black Music and the Civil Rights Movement Concert, a tribute to Dr. King.
On Monday, Jan. 18 the Annual MLK Day parade will take place down MLK Boulevard, ending at Fair Park with a vendor fair, fashion show, and car show. All events are open to the public.
When: Friday Jan. 15 from noon to 4:30 p.m. - MLK Celebration Fair
Where: MLK Jr. Recreation Center- 2901 Pennsylvania Ave.
Hiring managers, college recruiters, and healthcare professionals have joined forces to bring the first ever Celebration Fair to the MLK Center. Our goal is to fully service the community with health, employment, and educational opportunities.
When: Friday, Jan. 15, 4 to 7 p.m. — Museum Open House
]Where: MLK Jr. Community Center- 2922 MLK Blvd.
The Dallas Civil Rights Museum plans to host an Open House on Friday, January 15, 2016 from 4 to 7 p.m.. This is an opportunity to visit the Civil Rights Museum and explore the Pathway to Freedom exhibit. Light refreshments will be served.
When: Friday January 15 at 7 p.m. — Candle- Lighting Ceremony
Where: MLK Jr. Recreation Center, 2901 Pennsylvania Ave.
This annual event is sponsored by the Alpha Sigma Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. The keynote speaker is Pastor Denny Davis of St. John Baptist Church. Winners of the Dr. Martin Luther King Essay Contest will be announced during the program. For more information, contact Forrest Jackson, Event Chair at (469) 865-5372.
When: Saturday, Jan. 16 at 5:30 p.m. — Awards Banquet and Silent Auction
Where: Hyatt Regency Hotel- 300 Reunion Blvd.
5:30 p.m.: Silent Auction — 6:30 p.m. Awards Banquet 9 p.m. - Afterglow
The Awards Banquet and Silent Auction are annual events dedicated to honoring key sponsors, volunteers, and other supporters of the MLK Center throughout the year. All proceeds go towards the MLK Center’s social services programs. This year’s Keynote speaker is Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant, author, activist, and pastor of Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore, Maryland. Other special guests include Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, Dallas City Council members, and other elected officials.
After the Banquet, guests will have a chance to attend the “Afterglow,” a professional mixer and networking opportunity. Light refreshments will be served, along with live entertainment and music.
Individual tickets to the banquet are $85. Tickets to only the Afterglow are $20.
When: Sunday, January 17 at 11 a.m. — Be Covered Texas/Super Sunday
Where: More than 100 Churches in the Dallas area will participate in this event hosted by Be Covered Texas, designed to educate citizens about new health insurance laws. Certified navigators will assist with the enrollment process using the Marketplace.
When: Sunday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m. — 32nd Annual Black Music and the Civil Rights Movement Concert
Where: Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center- 2501 Flora St.
This moving tribute reflects on Dr. King's life and celebrates the struggles and victories of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. It is a compelling evening of narration, music and dance, recounting contemporary movements of then and now. The concert features special guest artists Tony Terry and Rahsaan Patterson. Conceived and produced by Curtis King.
When: Monday, January 18 at 10 a.m. — Martin Luther King, Jr. March & Parade
Where: The Annual Dallas Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade will march down MLK Boulevard in South Dallas observing Dr. King's birthday holiday. This year's parade grand marshal is urban radio legend Tom Joyner. The parade steps off at Holmes Street and continues down Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. to Fair Park. Following the parade, the Annual Celebration will be held at the Fair Park Automobile Building with live entertainment, health screenings and information, college & career fair, fashion show, car show, children's activities, vendors, food, fun and more. Considered one of the largest King Birthday Celebrations in the country, this year the parade will be televised live on NBC 5. To register to march in the parade or participate as a vendor or performer at the Celebration, please log on to www.dallasmlk.com.
Information: For information about events or sponsorship opportunities call: (214) 670-8418 or go to www.mlkcelebrationdallas.org. For more information about the MLK Parade, visit www.dallasmlk.com. For information about the concert, visit www.tbaal.org. Follow the MLK Center on social media @MLKCCDallas.
Key sponsors include 97.9 The Beat, Absolutely Blooming, the Alpha Lambda Sigma chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, Arthello Beck Gallery, Be Covered Texas, Boom 94.5, Capital One Bank, Christian Bible Fellowship Church, City of Dallas, Comerica Bank, Dallas County Schools, Dallas Examiner, Dallas Morning News, Dallas Weekly, Eberstein & Witherite LLP, Fiesta Mart, Foremost Family Clinic, Frito Lay, Frost Bank, Huffines Chevrolet Dodge, Hyatt Regency Dallas Hotel, K104 FM Radio, KHVN “Heaven 97,” MeMe G Salon, Molina Healthcare, Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, NBC Dallas/ Fort Worth, Nestle Water, New Hope Baptist Church, Radio One, Regenerated Hope, Reliant NRG Company, Singing Hills Baptist Church, St. Paul United Methodist Church, TXU Energy, VITAS, Wells Fargo Bank, WFAA, and Williams Fried Chicken, Inc.
