• City of Tacoma QA
  • City of Tacoma OpenData




 

Theme for MLK Celebration January 21 is ‘We’re Better Together’

Theme for MLK Celebration January 21 is ‘We’re Better Together’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 18, 2019

 

MEDIA CONTACTS

Tanisha Jumper, Media and Communications, tjumper@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5152
Maria Lee, Media and Communications, maria.lee@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2054

 

Theme for Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration
on January 21 is ‘We’re Better Together’

-- University of Puget Sound President Isiaah Crawford to Serve as Keynote Speaker --

The theme of the City of Tacoma’s annual event on January 21, celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is “We’re Better Together”. The event begins at 11 AM, with doors opening at 10 AM, in the Greater Tacoma Convention Center (1500 Commerce St.). University of Puget Sound President Isiaah Crawford will serve as the keynote speaker and Jenna Hanchard from KING will serve as the emcee. 

Dr. Dolores Silas will be honored with the Lifetime Service Award. Dr. Silas was the first African American woman to serve on Tacoma’s City Council, and as a Tacoma Public Schools administrator.

Vanna Sing, founder of the Tacoma Healing Awareness Community, will be honored with the Emerging Leader Community Service Award, a new award category that focuses on individuals who are 30 years of age or younger, and have demonstrated a commitment to becoming a leader for a lifetime, following the generations prior who have given back to and lifted up their communities.  

Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards will present a special tribute to Linda Burgess-Duncan, the City’s long-time American Sign Language interpreter who lost her battle to cancer last year.

Performers at the event include the MLK Community Choir, Ballet Folklórico de Roosevelt Elementary School, Diana Starr, Raynell Robinson and Tamara Witherspoon, Kristy and Harmony Jordan, and Kenya Adams.

The event is expected to draw roughly 1,500 – 2,000 attendees of all ages. In addition to free holiday on-street parking and free parking at Freighthouse Square (2501 E. D St.), which is easily accessible via LINK light rail from the Convention Center stop located directly in front of the event venue, there will also be signage directing event attendees to designated complimentary parking stalls that will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

The event will air live on TV Tacoma, which is carried on both the Click! and Comcast Cable systems, and streamed at tvtacoma.com.

For more information about the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration, visit cityoftacoma.org/mlk, email mlk@cityoftacoma.org or call (253) 573-2523.

Attendees are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food items, such as peanut butter and pop-top canned meats, for the Emergency Food Network Food Drive. 

 

###


About the City Events and Recognition Committee

The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration program is spearheaded by a City Council appointed City Events and Recognition Committee comprised of local community leaders from a broad array of backgrounds and areas of expertise.

The City Events and Recognition Committee serves as an advisory and action committee on matters pertaining to City-hosted events and special recognition programs. Members are responsible for planning, reviewing and evaluating events, engaging the community in its fundraising efforts, and soliciting corporate and private sponsorships to leverage funds for City-hosted events such as the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration.


]]>