FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 10, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTS

Tanisha Jumper, Media and Communications, tjumper@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5152

Stacy Ellifritt, Media and Communications, stacy.ellifritt@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2005

Community Invited to Attend the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration on January 20

--Theme for this year’s event is ‘Vision 2020: Beyond the Dream’--

On Monday, January 20, the community is invited to attend the 32nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center (1500 Commerce St.). Doors will open at 10 AM for a community outreach fair, with the program starting at 11 AM.

The theme of the City of Tacoma’s annual event that celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is “Vision 2020: Beyond the Dream”. The Evergreen State College-Tacoma’s Academic Dean Dr. Marcia Tate Arunga will serve as the keynote speaker. Tacoma’s own Jenna Hanchard and Jamika Scott will address the audience with motivational messages.

Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards will welcome attendees and present this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Awards.

Kiara Daniels, vice chair of Tacoma’s Citizen Police Advisory Committee, will receive the Emerging Leader Award, an award focused 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 Community House will be honored with the Lifetime Service Award. Led by Executive Director Lauren Walker Lee with a group of staff and volunteers, Tacoma Community House is dedicated to providing basic human services to anyone in need of assistance. Their focus areas include education, employment, immigration, and advocacy services.

Performers at the event include the St. John’s Choral Group, Lincoln High School’s marching band, the Joint Base Lewis-McChord America's First Corps Band and 593d Expeditionary Sustainment Command Color Guard, Kwabi Amoah-Forson of The Peace Bus, dancer DianaStarr, and more.

The event is expected to draw a crowd of more than 1,000 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.

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