*Los Angeles, CA – The Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California (SCLC-SC) recently announced a full slate of special events to recognize the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the 2016 SCLC-SC King Legacy Week Festival.
The seven days of events begin Tuesday, January 11 and culminate on King Holiday, Monday, January 18, 2016 with the SCLC-SC King Legacy Awards Gala at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Los Angeles.
Hosted by actor William Allen Young of CBS drama, “Code Black,” the SCLC-SC King Legacy Awards Gala’s 2016 honorees include: Cheryl Boone Isaacs, history-making President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences; DeVon Franklin, best-selling author and President/CEO of Sony Studios-based Franklin Entertainment; and Ken Maxey, Comcast Director of External Affairs, California Region, to name a few.
The Gala’s Honorary Chair is LA Police Commission President, Matthew M. Johnson, Esq., also Managing Partner of the nationally revered law firm, Ziffren Brittenham LLP.
“The SCLC-SC King Legacy Awards Gala is special, because it is presented by the only organization established by Dr, King, and honors those men and women who reflect the mission, vision and dream of our founder, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said SCLC-SC, President and CEO Pastor William D. Smart, Jr. “In addition, the SCLC-SC King Legacy Week provides a diversity of programming over seven days for everyone of all ages and backgrounds.”
The SCLC-SC King Legacy Week kicks off on Tuesday, January 12 with the final round of the free city-wide SCLC-SC Emerging Leaders’ Youth Essay and Oratorical Contest. The top six finalists will present their speeches on “Breaking Barriers.”
The contest is open to all Southern California middle and high school students to compete in two categories: Grades 6 through 8 and Grades 9 through 12, with the finalists receiving cash prizes. The contest entry deadline is December 20, 2015 at 11:59 pm PST.
In homage to Dr. King’s commitment to citizen participation at all levels of government, Wednesday, January 13 is designated as SCLC-SC/Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Civic Engagement Day, which will include a voter registration drive.
On Thursday, January 14 at 8:30 am, the Annual Interfaith Prayer Breakfast will be held at the historic Holman United Methodist Church, where Dr. King often spoke.
It’s also church home of civil rights legend and former SCLC-SC Executive Director, Rev. James Lawson. All faiths are invited to the breakfast to celebrate Dr. King’s message of equality, freedom, justice and peace.
On Friday, January 15 an original stage play, “Martin: Call of Duty,” will have its only Los Angeles performance at West Angeles Church of God in Christ. The play depicts the story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., from the initial bus boycott support of Rosa Parks in 1955 to his death in 1968.
A post event audience discussion of the challenges and successes as well as the price of answering the call will take place immediately afterwards. This play is free to the public.
At Holman United Methodist Church on Saturday, January 16 at 7:30 pm, the SCLC-SC and the acclaimed Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA) under the direction of esteemed composer and conductor, Charles Dickerson III will hold a free concert: “A Celebration of the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
The ICYOLA consists of approximately sixty middle, high school and college students, primarily of African-American descent.
In honor of Dr. King’s calling as minister, as well as his embracing and generating of interfaith alliances, the SCLC-SC is asking all religions, denominations and creeds to recognize Dr. King in their respective services held during Friday, January 15 (his day of birth) through Sunday, January 17.
Finally, on the actual King Holiday, Monday, January 18 in addition to the SCLC-SC King Legacy Awards Gala that evening, the other signature event, the popular Annual Kingdom Day Parade will be held that morning. Presented by Congress of Racial Equality, California (CORE-CA), the SCLC-SC is a parade partner.
For more information regarding the SCLC-SC King Legacy Week Festival and the SCLC-SC King Legacy Awards Gala send an email to: [email protected].
source:
SCLC-Southern California PR Team
[email protected]
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
