Celebrate Dr. King

Celebrate Dr. King

Date of Record: January 5, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2006

For more information, contact:
Barbara Fuqua, Chair, City of Bloomington Dr. Martin Luther King Commission, 331-7903
Craig Brenner, Special Projects Coordinator, Community and Family Resources, City of Bloomington, 349-3471

Bloomington, IN -- This year's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration begins at 7:30 pm on January 16, 2006, at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. A reception at the First United Methodist Church precedes the program at 6 p.m. The reception will feature food catered by Smokin' Jack's Catering, a display of students' winning Web pages, and the awarding of prizes to the designers. Both the program and reception are free and open to the public.

"Community service and volunteerism represent an essential part of Bloomington's character," said Mayor Mark Kruzan. "And community service truly honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr."

Speakers at the event include Kruzan, Monroe County Commissioner Iris Kiesling, Ivy Tech-Bloomington Chancellor John Whikehart, King Commission Chair Barbara Fuqua, and Master of Ceremonies David Hummons.

The celebration features presentation of the Commission's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Award, announcement of the winners of the Commission's Web Page Design contest, announcement of the book selected for this year's "One Book One Bloomington and Beyond" project, and recognition of volunteers who participated in service projects as part of "A Day On! Not A Day Off."

Musical performers will highlight the event this year. They include the Indiana University African American Choral Ensemble directed by Dr. James Mumford, music by Professor David Baker performed by pianist Luke Gillespie and cellist Jewell Evans, jazz played by members of the Musical Arts Youth Orchestra, and a Community Chorus led by Mellonee Burnim and Susan Swaney.

The public is invited to participate in the Community Chorus, which will sing traditional African-American music at the celebration. Interested vocalists are invited to attend the rehearsal on Jan. 16 at 4:30 p.m. at the Theater. For more information, please contact Susan Swaney, [sswaney@indiana.edu|mailto:sswaney@indiana.edu] or 339-5655.

Information about the MLK Day Celebration is available online at [www.bloomington.in.gov/cfrd], or by calling Craig Brenner, Special Projects Coordinator in the City's Community and Family Resources Department, at 812-349-3471.

Major event underwriters include Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana University Credit Union, WFIU, and the City of Bloomington. Additional sponsors include First United Methodist Church, Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i's, Monroe Bank, United Commerce Bank, Bloomington Black Business & Professional Association, Inc., Manns & Manns Attorneys, and George and Viola Taliaferro.

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