NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO PRESIDENT TO SPEAK AT KING EVENT

The president of National Public Radio, Delano Lewis, will give the keynote speech at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast Jan. 17.

National Public Radio (NPR) provides news, information and cultural awareness programs to more than 475-member stations nationwide, including one at Southeast Missouri State University.

The 8 a.m. breakfast will be held in the University Center Ballroom. Lewis' speech will be the highlight of Southeast's "All Campus Tribute" to the slain civil rights leader.

The theme of this year's events is "King's Dream Revisited Through the Voices of Our Youth."

"To break down racism, we have to look to our youth," said Debra Mitchell-Braxton, assistant director of the Campus Assistance Center and coordinator of the King tribute.

"They are our future. We need to teach youth that the color of their skin doesn't matter. If we can get our children to understand why Dr. King's movement should be carried on, this will help. Youth are the key. We have to teach them early," she said.

Cost of the King breakfast is $4.25 per person with a university meal plan and $6.50 for the general public. Tickets for the breakfast may be purchased until noon Friday at the information desk in the University Center.

Lewis joined NPR from C&P Telephone Co., where he served as president and chief executive officer responsible for telecommunications services in the Washington, D.C., area. Lewis became president of C&P in 1988 and chief executive in 1990.

He spent 20 years with the telephone company, having joined C&P as public affairs manager in 1973.

He previously worked on Capitol Hill as an administrative assistant to Rep. Walter E. Fauntroy of the District of Columbia from 1971 to 1973, and as a legislative assistant to Sen. Edward Brooke of Massachusetts from 1969 to 1971.

From 1966 to 1969, he served in Africa with the Peace Corps.

Following the breakfast on Jan. 17, the university's tribute to King will continue with a children's festival scheduled for 10 a.m. in Academic Auditorium. Festival participants will provide oratorical and musical tributes.

A Brown Bag Luncheon Concert is slated for noon in the University Center lobby, where guest artist Charlene Peyton will provide a vocal tribute. A Musical Extravaganza will be held at 3 p.m. in Academic Auditorium, during which area youth and adult choirs will perform.

Another musical tribute to King will be featured that evening at the Southeast men's basketball game with Middle Tennessee State at the Show Me Center.

Throughout the week, exhibits of artwork by Cape Girardeau elementary school students will be displayed in the University Center Program Lounge. The artwork will commemorate the life of King.