Community to Celebrate Dr. King’s Birthday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2009

For more information, contact:
William A. Vance, Jr., Chair, City of Bloomington Dr. Martin Luther King Commission, 332-1513
Craig Brenner, Special Projects Coordinator, Community and Family Resources, City of Bloomington, 349-3471
Danny Lopez, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349-CITY, lopezd@bloomington.in.gov

Bloomington, IN - Mayor Mark Kruzan invites the community to attend the City of Bloomington's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration, which takes place Monday, Jan. 19, 2009. The event begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. It is preceded by a reception at 5 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church featuring a display of students' winning Web designs, the awarding of prizes to the designers and refreshments. Both the program and reception are free and open to the public.

"Community service and volunteerism are key elements that enhance Bloomington's community character," Kruzan said. "This event is a wonderful way to celebrate Dr. King's life and honor his legacy."

Speakers at the event include Kruzan, Keynote Speaker Bishop Woodie White of Emory University's Candler School of Theology, Ivy Tech-Bloomington Chancellor John Whikehart, City of Bloomington King Commission Chair William A. Vance, Jr. and Master of Ceremonies David Hummons.

The event will include performances by the Indiana University African American Choral Ensemble directed by Professor Keith McCutchen, the community vocal group Kaia and Hip Hop ConnXion-Indiana.

The celebration features presentation of the Commission's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Award, announcement of the winners of the Commission's Web 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."

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, Cook, Inc., United Commerce Bank, Monroe Bank, Stephens Honda-Hyundai, WFIU, Indiana University Credit Union and the City of Bloomington.

Additional sponsors include Bloomington Hospital, First United Methodist Church, Bloomington District United Methodist Church, Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i's, United Way of Monroe County, Southern Indiana Pediatrics, LLC, The villages of Indiana, Inc., and Alphonso and Dollie Manns.

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