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Martin Luther King, Jr. Prayer Breakfast, Saturday, January 17, 2009
The Asheville-Buncombe County Martin Luther King, Jr. Association will observe the 80th birthday of the civil rights leader at its 28th annual Prayer Breakfast at the Grove Park Inn on January 17, 2009. The King holiday events are one of the largest public celebrations in Asheville each year, attracting more than 1,000 citizens and distinguished guests to the historic inn.
The breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m. and includes music by the MLK Fellowship Choir and a tribute to Dr. King by Deja Benton Galloway. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Bernard LaFayette, who worked closely with Dr. King in the years before his assassination and has been a leader in the movement for peace and nonviolent conflict resolution for more than 40 years. He directs the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies at the University of Rhode Island and serves as chairman of the Rhode Island Select Commission on Race and Police-Community Relations. In 2007 he received the Thurgood Marshall Award from the School of Law at Quinnipiac University.
Youth Celebration
In addition to the breakfast, the 2009 birthday celebration
includes three other events, all of which are free and open to the
public. The weekend begins with the annual Youth Celebration and Awards
Ceremony on Thursday, January 15 at 4 p.m. at the Diana Wortham Theater
at Pack Place.
The program recognizes those nominated for their work in
furthering the spirit and philosophy of Dr. King, culminating in the
presentation of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Award to a young
person whose work best exemplifies his legacy. In addition to music and
dance performances, this year’s entertainment includes a special
presentation by the youth of the W.C. Reid Center for Creative Arts of
“Street Corner Blues,” which played to public audiences in the fall of
2008 to great acclaim. The play was written by Anthony Alexander and is
directed by Reid Center Director LaVone Griffin.
 Peace Walk & Rally
On Monday, January 19, the annual Peace Walk and rally will begin
at noon at Nazareth First Baptist Church. at the corner of Martin
Luther King Boulevard and Pine Street. Marchers will meet at the church
and walk north to the MLK Park, at the corner of Mountain Street, for a
program of music and speeches.
Participants are asked to bring canned or other nonperishable
food items for Manna Food Bank as a way to help those in need during
difficult times. Following the program, everyone is invited to St.
James AME Church for its annual fish fry sandwich lunch.
Candlelight Service
Monday evening at 6 p.m. will be a candle-lighting ceremony in
remembrance of the less fortunate and as a reminder of the need to
continue working to combat injustice.
The Candlelight Service will be held at St. Matthias Episcopal
Church at 1 Dundee Street, with music by the Reynolds-Miller Chorale,
Trevor Chavis, Director. Twelve area nonprofit organizations will be
honored, and the 2009 Martin Luther King, Jr. Award will be presented
to a Buncombe County resident.
The celebration events are cosponsored by the City of Asheville
and Buncombe County. Tickets to the Prayer Breakfast are $20 for
adults, $16 for youth 12 and under, and $30 for patrons. Tickets are
available at the YMI Cultural Center at Eagle & Market Streets.
Tickets and more information are also available by phone at
828-335-6896.
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