Lecture by Son of Slain Civil Rights Leader Highlights Events Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Martin Luther King III and Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe are two of the featured speakers in a week of events marking the 2010 celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in northwest Arkansas.

The theme for the 14^th annual celebration is “Living the Legacy: Celebrating the Dream through Service." The events, honoring the life and legacy of King, are being organized and coordinated by the Northwest Arkansas Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Planning Committee and the University of Arkansas MLK Committee. The public is invited to attend all the events, most of which are free of charge.

The activities begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, with a community service project at the Elizabeth Richardson Center in Fayetteville. The Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity is sponsoring the project, which will involve students from the University of Arkansas and members of the northwest Arkansas community.

At 6 p.m. that evening Charles Robinson, vice provost for diversity at the University of Arkansas, will be the featured speaker for the “Service of Praise and Reflection” at St. James Baptist Church in Fayetteville. Robinson will reflect on King’s vital role in the civil rights movement. The service will also feature local dancers and choral groups.

The annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, at St. James Baptist Church. The featured speaker is Reggie Perry, director of sales for Nokia Siemens Networks.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 18, begins with the Youth Prayer Breakfast at 8 a.m. at the University of Arkansas’ Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House. The purpose of this event is to allow young people to come together in prayer and to reflect on ways the meaning of King’s dream has affected their lives. 

At 9:30 a.m. the young people will go to the University of Arkansas Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building to play games including basketball and volleyball. Members of the University of Arkansas men’s and women’s basketball teams will be on hand to help with the basketball game, and the Razorback volleyball team will facilitate a volleyball game.

The central event of the day begins with the City of Fayetteville Award presentation to the city employee who best exhibits King’s spirit and legacy. This takes place at 11:15 a.m. in the Walton Arts Center parking lot, and is followed by the annual MLK Day March to the University of Arkansas Union. In case of bad weather this event will be held in the Arkansas Union Ballroom.

Gov. Mike Beebe will be the keynote speaker for the Noon Vigil at the Union Ballroom. This event is sponsored and organized by the university’s Black Students Association and the Associated Student Government. Chancellor G. David Gearhart will also speak and introduce the governor. Peggy Boyles, director of development for Student Affairs, will offer the closing remarks.

The 14^th annual Recommitment Banquet will be held at 7 p.m. in the Fayetteville Town Center and is hosted by the Northwest Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Planning Committee. The featured speaker is Marlen Whitley, a corporate attorney from Houston. MLK Scholarships will be awarded to 10 local high school students, 10 undergraduates and five graduate students. These scholarships are funded by sponsorships and donations raised by the planning committee. Several people from the northwest Arkansas community will also be honored for outstanding community service.

Ticket prices for this event are $25 for adults and $15 for students. For banquet ticket information, contact Angela Mosley Monts at 479-575-2812.

The university’s student Distinguished Lecture Series committee and the campus MLK Jr. Committee will present Martin Luther King III at the Fayetteville Town Center at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19. This lecture is free and open to the public. No tickets are needed.

The rest of the week’s events all take place on the University of Arkansas campus.

Judge Lavenski R. Smith of the U.S. Court of Appeals, 8^th Circuit, will lead a seminar on the life, work and importance of Martin Luther King Jr. The seminar will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, in Room 009 of the Plant Sciences building. This event is sponsored by Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences.

That evening people are invited to “Learn African Dance” at 8 p.m. in Room 220 of the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building, The event is sponsored by the office of intramural and recreational sports.

The Sam M. Walton College of Business will host a panel discussion: “Linking the MLK Jr. Legacy Across Generations” at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, in the Willard Walker Hall Auditorium.

At 4 p.m. that afternoon Pearl Ford, assistant professor of political science, will present a lecture on the theme of “Living the Legacy” in the Donald W. Reynolds Center Auditorium. The lecture is sponsored by the campus MLK Jr. Committee.

There are also two ongoing events being held in connection with the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.

The Razorback Athletes Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is sponsoring a clothing drive as a community service project. Clothes will be collected for northwest Arkansas homeless shelters from Jan. 11 to 31. Donated clothing can be taken to drop-off boxes at Barnhill Arena, the Bev Lewis Center, the Bogle Academic Center and the Frank Broyles Center.