[Durham INC] MLK Day -- A week of commemorations (much more in the Herald-Sun)

[John Schelp]

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY -- A WEEK OF COMMEMORATIONS
By Neil Offen, Herald-Sun, 13 Jan 2010

It's more than just a day.

The celebration of the birth and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. will spread out over the next week or so, reaching from one end of Durham to another, evoking the memory and message of the civil rights leader from breakfasts to dinners, through exuberant parades to solemn worship.

Here's a look at the many ways the community will honor the man and his meaning:

Today

The "I AM the Dream" exhibit opens today at Duke University's John Hope Franklin Center, 2204 Erwin Road, featuring mixed media art installations by students of Durham's SeeSaw Design Studio that examine what King's dream means to them. The exhibit will run until March 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

Thursday

North Carolina NAACP president William Barber II speaks on "Building Community Leaders" at Duke Hospital's Searle Center Lecture Hall at 12:30 p.m.

Durham city and county employees fifth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Program includes remarks from local officials and a keynote speech by J.D. Greear, pastor of the Summit Church of Durham, as well as music by the City-County Martin Luther King Jr. Mass Choir. The event is at First Presbyterian Church, 305 East Main St., at noon.

Friday

Charles Becton, senior lecturing fellow at the Duke and UNC schools of law, presents the Martin Luther King Lecture, "Our Brother's Keeper," focusing on the message that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" at Judea Reform, 1933 W. Cornwallis Road at 7:30 p.m.

Martin Luther King Youth Celebration, with music by the MLK Youth Choir, at Antioch Baptist Church, 1415 Holloway St. 6:30 p.m.

Independent filmmaker Orlando Bagwell, co-producer of "Eyes on the Prize," "Citizen King" and the PBS documentary series "Africans in America," speaks at the Richard White Lecture Hall on Duke's East Campus. 6 p.m.

Longtime Durham attorney William Marsh, who met King and was instrumental in some of his visits to Durham, speaks at Durham Technical Community College's 25th annual MLK birthday celebration. The program includes a musical presentation by the Durham Tech MLK Choir and an interpretive dance. It will be in the multipurpose room of the Phail Wynn Jr. Student Services Center at 11:30 a.m.

Saturday

The eighth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade includes marching bands, floats, step and dance teams, vintage cars, clowns and more. North Carolina Central University Chancellor Charlie Nelms is grand marshal. The parade route will be along Fayetteville Street, beginning at Lakewood Avenue and ending at Elmira Avenue, at noon.

Duke Habitat for Humanity works with Durham Habitat, students from Holton Career and Resource Center and Habitat homeowners to build sheds for sale, with profits going to construct more Habitat homes. The event takes place at Duke University West Campus main quad, 8:15 a.m. to noon; 12:45 to 4 p.m.

"Brown v. Board of Education," Mike Wiley's one-man show about the Supreme Court ruling that desegrated schools, will be performed for free at the Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville St., at 2 p.m.

The annual Raise-a-Reader Bookfair and Youth Talent Showcase, which promotes literacy and provides parents with training and resources, will include book giveaways and book vendors from across the Triangle offering works for sale at Hayti Heritage Center from noon to 3 p.m.

Sunday

Labor leader and activist Dolores Huerta, who worked alongside Cesar Chavez on behalf of farm workers, gives the keynote address for Duke University's Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration at Duke Chapel at 3 p.m.

Martin Luther King Ecumenical Celebration with civil rights leader Vernon Jordan will take place at Watts Street Baptist Church, 800 Watts St., at 11 a.m.

The Rev. Joseph Roberts, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where he succeeded King, will preach at First Presbyterian Church on how to "Thaw Out!" Before the service, he will lead a discussion at 9:45 a.m. in Watts-Hill Hall on the topic, "Where Do We Go From Here? The Continuing Challenge for Civil Rights."

Monday

The 30th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, with greetings and remarks by state and local officials will take place with doors opening at 7:15 a.m. and remarks at 8 a.m. The free event is at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel, 4700 Emperor Blvd.

The annual Martin Luther King Celebration March & Rally begins at the Hayti Heritage Center at 10:15 a.m. and ends at the First Presbyterian Church.

The annual Martin Luther King Worship Service at Kings Park International Church features keynote speaker Bishop Millicent Hunter, senior pastor at Philadelphia's Baptist Worship Center, 1305 Odyssey Drive, at 6 p.m.

The African Children's Choir -- composed of children from three East African countries who have lost parents or relatives to AIDS -- performs at Page Auditorium on the Duke campus. 2 p.m.

A candlelight vigil is planned at Wallace Wade Stadium on the Duke campus. The vigil will conclude with an MLK March to Duke Chapel. The vigil begins at 5 p.m..

Dancer and choreographer Chuck Davis highlights the Carolina Friends School annual celebration in the school gym. 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Tuesday

"Chaos or Community: A Mosaic of Dr. King's Living Dream" is a community showcase featuring presentations and performances by Duke students and local poets, showing how Dr. King's dream continues today. Alysa Stanton, the nation's first black woman to be ordained as a rabbi by a mainstream Jewish seminary, also will speak. The event begins at Reynolds Auditorium on the Duke campus at 6 p.m.

Shepard Middle School, 2401 Dakota St., hosts an MLK program at 9 a.m.

Wednesday

Students from Duke, N.C. Central and Southern High School will package 50,000 meals to be sent overseas to crisis-burdened areas and school lunch programs in developing countries as part of the MLK Million Meals Service event. The packaging will take place at Southern High School at 5 p.m.