City of Bloomington To Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at Buskirk-Chumley Theater

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 10, 2011

For More Information: William A. Vance, Chair, Dr. Martin Luther King Commission, City of Bloomington, 332-1513
Craig Brenner, Special Projects Coordinator, Community and Family, Resources, City of Bloomington, 349-3471
Jared Schlemmer, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349.3406, schlemmj@bloomington.in.gov

Bloomington, IN -- Mayor Mark Kruzan invites the community to attend the 2011 City of Bloomington Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration on Monday, Jan. 17. The birthday celebration will begin at 7 p.m. at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave. It will be preceded by a reception at the First United Methodist Church at 5 p.m.

The 7 p.m. event will include remarks by Kruzan and by Karen Hanson, the Provost and Executive Vice President of Indiana University Bloomington, City of Bloomington King Commission Chair William A. Vance, Jr. and others.

The keynote speaker is Sonia Sanchez. Sanchez is a poet, mother, activist, professor and international lecturer on black culture and literature, women's liberation, peace and racial justice. A sponsor of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Sanchez has written more than 16 books and plays. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the National Endowment for the Arts Lucretia Mott Award in 1984; the Outstanding Arts Award from the Pennsylvania Coalition of 100 Black Women; the Community Service Award from the National Black Caucus of State Legislators; the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Humanities for 1988; the Peace and Freedom Award from Women International League for Peace and Freedom for 1989; and a Pew Fellowship in the Arts for 1992-93.

Musical performers will include the Indiana University African American Choral Ensemble, directed by Professor Keith McCutchen; cellist Younghoon Koh, winner of the Nu Alpha Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Talent Hunt Contest; and the Fairview Elementary School Choir Directed by Kathryn Heise. In addition, Web Design Contest winners and volunteers who participated in "A Day On! Not A Day Off" will be recognized, and the winner of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission's Legacy Award will be announced.

The reception at 5 p.m. will feature light refreshments in recognition of the winners of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission's Web Design Contest. The Buskirk-Chumley Theater program and reception are both free and open to the public.

Major event underwriters include the City of Bloomington, Ivy Tech Community College-Bloomington, Indiana University, Otis Elevator, Stephens Honda-Hyundai and WFIU.

For a complete list of King Day of Service volunteer opportunities and other King holiday activities, visit www.bloomington.in.gov/mlk or contact Craig Brenner, Special Projects Coordinator for the Community and Family Resources Department, at brennerc@bloomington.in.gov or 349-3471.

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