Events planned to celebrate King's birthday

~ Speakers, choirs and area youths will provide tributes to the civil rights leader's memory.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. City Wide Celebration Committee has a slate of events planned for Jan. 11 to 15 to celebrate King's memory.

The first event, the fifth annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Extravaganza will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Osage Community Centre. Area performers will provide musical and oratorical tributes to King on his 78th birthday.

The next event, the 17th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration, will be at 6 p.m. Jan. 14 at Rhema Word Breakthrough International Ministries. The program will feature speakers and performances by a mass choir. The annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award will also be awarded.

The holiday celebrating King will feature four events sponsored by the City Wide Celebration Committee. The first is the 22nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast at 8 a.m. Jan. 15 at the Osage Community Centre. The Rev. James Webb will be the keynote speaker.

The second annual Civil Rights Walk Down Memory Lane will take place at 10:30 a.m. that day at the Osage Community Centre. the program will feature a pictorial exhibit of the civil rights movement, the showing of the documentary "Eyes on the Prize," a panel discussing the civil rights movement and other informational activities. The sixth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Luncheon Benefit will follow at the Osage Centre at noon. The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Bartalee Finney, and the program will include performances by area choirs and the presentation of the Dr. C. John Ritter Humanitarian Award. Attendees are asked to bring canned goods, non-perishable items, toiletries and educational supplies for admission to all King celebration events.

Reservations for the breakfast and luncheon are required by Friday.

The 11th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Gala will be held at 4 p.m. Jan. 15 at Center Court at West Park Mall. Area youths will provide tributes to King and the civil rights movement.

Organizers are still seeking sponsorship for King celebration events. For more information or to make reservations for events, call celebration committee director Debra Mitchell-Braxton at (573) 979-0213 or Heather Bowman at (573) 803-0075.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182