FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE............Media Contact: Priscilla Clarke (202)723-2200

January 10, 2005 Clarke & Associates, LLC
Email. pclarkepr@aol.com
Event info: James Speight III, President Tel. 202-345-4006

MEDIA ADVISORY

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CELEBRATION DAY COMMMITTEE
HOLDS ANNUAL DR. KING BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
JANUARY 15 - 17TH IN WASHINGTON, DC

Celebration Salutes The Life, Dream and Vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Washington, DC - The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Day Committee, Inc. will hold its Annual King Celebration in Washington, DC on January 15-17, 2005. This year’s theme is “Living the Legacy…Building Bridges of Hope”.

The 3 day celebration will feature a Youth Symposium, Annual Black Tie Gala Reception, Gospel Musical Concert, Inter-Faith “Prayer, Peace, & Praise” Service, The Wreath Laying Ceremony and the Annual Celebrity Celebration Performance at the Historic Lincoln Theatre. (*Detailed schedule of events is attached). Local and national artists are also invited to share in the celebration, noted artists such as Stevie Wonder, The Winans, Kenny Latimore, Tony Terry, Melba Moore, Doug E. Fresh and many others have participated in previous celebrations. This year’s celebration will feature a surprise performance by a National Recording Artist. For the past 15 years the committee has provided a free weekend of events and activities for thousands of residents from the metropolitan area to attend.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Day Committee, Inc., is a nonprofit organization established in 1989, to educated and promote the National Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The committee also assists in providing scholarships to high school graduates. A summer tutorial and mentoring program was established to support school aged children with learning disabilities. Each summer, the committee sponsors educational and recreational activities with social development empowerment. For the past fifteen years, the outreach program has assisted more than three thousand students through their summer youth programs. Students attend and participate in programs that provide them with hands on jobs related work experience, summer camp, field trips and many other positive and productive programs that help enhance their lives.

“Living the Legacy…Building Bridges of Hope”
*Schedule of Events Attached

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Committee, Inc.
Annual Weekend of Celebration
Saturday, January 15 thru Monday, January 17, 2005

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 2005
*2005 MLK STD/Aids Youth Symposium – “Living The Legacy: Building Bridges of Hope”
(Free Admission)
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington, Eastern Branch
261 17th Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 (2 Blocks from the Stadium/ Armory Metro Station)
Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm (Free box lunch, Interactive discussions, guest speakers, entertainment, door prizes)

*Black Tie Gala Reception
Embassy of Finland, Ambassador Valtasarri, Host
3301 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. 20008
Time: 7:00pm – 10pm (Proceeds to benefit Scholarship Fund)
*Reception Ticket Prices: Single $50 / Couple$80*
Black Tie Gala Reception tickets are Limited - Must RSVP by January 13, 2005 to Register for Reception Guest List

*Tickets for Black Tie Reception include VIP seating at the Lincoln Theatre

SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 2005
*Gospel Musical Concert “Living The Legacy: Building Bridges of Hope”
(Free Admission)
Nineteenth Street Baptist Church
4606 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011
Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Rev. Dr. Derrick Harkins, Host Pastor

Performers
Elder Phreda Reynolds Anthony Reid & The Reid Singers
Deborah Henderson The Men of Galilee
Leonard Hicks Elder Henry Davis
El Shaddai

MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2005
Interfaith "Prayer, Peace, & Praise" Service
(Free Admission)
Tenth Street Baptist Church, 1000 "R" Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
Time: 10:00 am-12:00pm
Rev. A.C. Durant, Host Pastor
Keynote Speaker, Reverend Terry D. Streeter, Pastor, Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church of Washington, DC
(Immediately following the Inter-Faith Service, we will parade two blocks to the Memorial to lay Wreath)

Wreath Laying Ceremony African-American Civil War Memorial
(Free Admission) Hon. Frank Smith, Jr., Chairperson
Vermont Avenue & "U" Street, NW
Time: 12:30pm

*Monday, Jan. 17th continued…

Celebrity Celebration Performance at the Historic Lincoln Theater

1215 "U" STREET, NW, Washington, DC
(Free Admission with Ticket – must get advance ticket from Lincoln Theatre Box Office)
Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm (Free Event, Requires Tickets/Tickets Available Beginning Monday, January 10, 2005

Scholarship Award Presentation: Scholarships will be awarded to students from Banneker High School (Thao Anh Tran, Elijah Huggins and Rachel Okunubi) and Dunbar High School (Ikea Bowman)

Featuring Local and National Entertainers and Performers
Hosts: Comedian Chris Thomas & Magician Michael Joseph

FOR INFO CALL: 202-345-4006 or visit:http://mlk.1colony.com
PRESS CONTACT: PRISCILLA CLARKE 202-723-2200 (Clarke & Associates, LLC) or email:pclarkepr@aol.com

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Priscilla Clarke, PRESIDENT
Clarke & Associates, LLC
Publicizing and Entertaining "Your World"
2020 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 271
Washington, DC 20006
Tel. 202-723-2200, Fax. 202-723-4558
Website: www.CLARKEPR.com