MLK, JR. CELEBRATION WEEK ACTIVITIES

If you are having trouble with viewing this HTML email, visit: http://www.davault.net/mailroom/20070111.htm

Previous announcements: http://www.davault.net/mailroom

January 11, 2007 eBlast Update

In This Issue:

MLK, JR. CELEBRATION WEEK ACTIVITIES

SHOUT OUTS & SHOUT DOWNS

IN THEATRES

MYSPACE.com PROFILE PICKs

UPCOMING EVENTS/ ANNOUNCEMENTS

COMMENTS

MLK, JR. CELEBRATION WEEK ACTIVITIES

IN ATLANTA:

“A KING CELEBRATION” WITH THE ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Thursday, January 11, 2007, 8:00 P.M.
Tickets: $25-General Admission (buy one, get one free), Available at Center Box Office located at 15th and Peachtree until 3:00 p.m. on the day of the concert. Tickets may also be purchased at the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel on Morehouse College Campus starting at 6:30 p.m. the day of the concert. $10 Senior/Student Tickets (buy one, get one free), student id is required. Limited to one ticket per student id.

Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA - The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra presents “A King Celebration” which is broadcast by American Public Media (APM). APM is a consortium partner with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, The King Center, Morehouse College, and Spelman College in bringing this program to Atlanta. Contact: The King Center at (404) 526-8900 or for Ticket Information: 404-733-5000 Woodruff Arts Center Box Office, or www.atlantasymphony.org

STATE OF GEORGIA MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY COMMISSION PROGRAM
Friday, January 12, 2007, 10:00 a.m. - Open to the Public
The State Capitol, Atlanta, GA - For more information contact: The Georgia Martin Luther King, Jr., King Holiday Commission at 404-463-7780

THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SERVICE SUMMIT
Saturday - Monday, January 13-15, 2007 - Free – ($15 suggested donation & canned good)
TBA– January 14 & January 15 - Service Projects in Metro-Atlanta – January 16 - Atlanta, GA
The MLK, Jr. Service Summit, co-sponsored with Hands On Atlanta, is a conference exploring the ways ordinary citizens can make a difference in the world. The three-day conference concludes on Monday, January 16th with diverse community service projects throughout Atlanta in honor of Dr. King.
For more information contact: Hands On Atlanta at (404) 979-2800

THE ANNUAL “SALUTE TO GREATNESS” AWARDS DINNER
Saturday, January 13, 2007 - Reception 5:30 P.M. - Dinner 6:30 P.M.
Hyatt Regency, 265 Peachtree St., NE, Atlanta, GA.
Tables: $5,000 & $2,500; Tickets $200
The Annual Salute to Greatness Awards Dinner is The King Center’s primary fundraising initiative. One of the Center’s highest honors, the Salute to Greatness Award is presented at the Dinner to recognize national and/or international individuals and corporations that exemplify excellence in their leadership and have demonstrated a commitment to social responsibility in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
*Honorees: Mrs. Coretta Scott King, Founder, The King Center and The Honored Donors to the King Papers, Atlanta Initiative, under the leadership of Mayor Shirley Franklin
*Dinner Chair: MR. JESSE HILL, JR., Chairman & CEO (ret.), Atlanta Life Insurance Company Dinner Co-Chair: AMBASSADOR ANDREW J. YOUNG, Chairman, GoodWorks International. For Ticket and General Information Contact: External Affairs & Programs at (404) 526-8911 http://www.thekingcenter.org

LECTURE PERFORMANCE & BOOK SIGNING

Sunday, January 14, 2007 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.,
Lecture Performance: “Achieving The Dream” by Ms. Yolanda King, - Free – Ebenezer Baptist Church – Horizon Sanctuary, 407 Auburn Ave., NE, Atlanta, GA. Immediately Following Lecture Presentation, Book Signing with Mrs. Christine King Farris & Ms. Yolanda King-The King Center Auditorium-One Freedom Plaza, 449 Auburn Avenue, NE Atlanta, GA http://www.yolanda-king.com

THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ANNUAL COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE
Monday, January 15, 2007 - 10:00 A.M.
Ebenezer Baptist Church – Heritage Sanctuary, 407 Auburn Ave., NE, Atlanta, GA
The Commemorative Service is the spiritual hallmark of the King Holiday Observance, and features tributes to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from national and international leaders. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Otis Moss, Sr., Pastor, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church. For More Information Contact: Barbara Harrison at (404) 526-8911
The Commemorative Service is open to the public. Limited seating is available in Ebenezer Baptist Church, Historic Horizon Sanctuary. Overflow seating in the Horizon Sanctuary, Ebenezer Baptist Church.
FOX5 WAGA-TV will broadcast the service.

HOLY HIP HOP ARTIST SHOWCASE & MUSIC AWARDS

Saturday Jan 13, 2007 @ 7:00 P.M. Center Stage Theater 1374 W Peachtree St NW Atlanta, GA 30309
Hosted by eDDie Velez featuring Canton Jones, Mr. DEL, K-NINE and others. http://www.holyhiphop.com

I Have a Dream: The Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection

Festivities, including hands-on activities and a performance by a cappella group D'Vine, kick off a show of personal papers that document the progress of King's civil rights activities. Free admission the first weekend of each month and every Monday. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; noon-5:30 p.m. Sundays. Jan. 15-May 13. http://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/

*A special broadcast on WSBTV Atlanta with Channel 2 Action News Presents "The King Papers" airing Sunday, January 14, 2007 at 7PM

OUTSIDE OF ATLANTA:

DUKE UNIVERSITY (NORTH CAROLINA)

Civil rights leader Andrew Young, a close fried and ally of King, will be the keynote speaker at the Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration being held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 14 at the Duke Chapel, Science Drive. This event is free and open to the public.

North Carolina Central University's annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration

Elder Bernice A. King, the youngest daughter of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, will be the keynote speaker at N.C. Central University's annual Martin Luther King Day celebration at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 12 in McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium. Free and open to the public. http://www.berniceking.com

Realizing the Dream Holiday Observance (NEW YORK)

Join Martin Luther King, III and other national leaders and noted personalities for this annual observance at the historic Riverside Church. http://www.theriversidechurchny.org/ http://www.realizingthedream.org/

Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute at Zanzibar Blue (PHILADELPHIA)

January 12-14th at Zanzibar Blue 200 South Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 215.732.4500
Featuring Orrin Evans Trio, Jaguar Wright and Ursula Rucker. http://www.zanzibarblue.com/

For more events, service opportunities and activities in your community, please visit: http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/family/mlkweek

SHOUT OUTS & SHOUT DOWNS

SHOUT OUT & SHOUT DOWNS

Before I get to the shout outs, I got a lil' somethin' to say to hopefully make some of you think...

This time last year an awaking had begun for me as I had written then. I was sitting in Ebenezer Baptist Church for what is for me as a native Atlantan the routine King Day church service. Something was in the air that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I didn't know it at the time, but a shift was happening and I was 'waking up'. At the time I expressed my, let's just say, issues with having my eyes and ears bombarded with MLK Holiday events that totally ignore what the holiday was created for. For those that missed the memo, it was not created for store sales and certainly not for party and club promoters to pump up blow out events Sunday night because there's no school or work Monday. No work Monday that is if you're one of the few that has an employer that actually recognizes the day. "A Day On... Not A Day Off" isn't a slogan, it is the purpose. It is to be a day of service and deeds to better ourselves, our communities and the world. Two weeks later on the morning of Tuesday, January 31, I was awakened by a familiar voice coming from the TV left on from the night before. It was Andrew Young being interviewed regarding the passing of Coretta Scott King. It was at that moment that I fully awoke. Not from the news alone, but a different kind of awaking happened. All the years spent as a kid at The King Center, watching Mrs. King work, watching Mrs. Farris work, being given first hand accounts and memories of the various players and events of "the movement", I never really thought much about it. I never realized that I was privy to a unique, priceless education. That is not until until Mrs. King became "Coretta Scott King: First Lady of the Civil Rights" in her transition did I realize that I had retained that education and have had a responsibility to it. I have been more observant over the past year. Paying particular attention to reference, treatment and respect towards Dr. King's legacy and I have to say that I am concerned. Some of what I've observed...

-DJs promoting their music using a play on Dr. King's name claiming it to be out of respect, but then offering nothing but profanity-laced, vulgar and violent lyrical content. When brought to their attention the contradiction, the reply was that of respect for Dr. King and his giving his life so that they could thrive in this great capitalist society we share.

-I believe it was last year in Texas where there was a King Holiday Observance. Fighter pilots flew over as part of the ceremonies.

-During the Teen Summit portion of the 100 Black Men Conference held here in Atlanta last summer, a young man asked Elder Bernice King who was a panelist a question mentioning her father alongside Tupac and Biggie.

-On March 28th the marketing gurus that were promoting T.I.'s movie 'ATL' and album KING were pumping things up and "King Day in the 'A'" was being heard repeatedly.

-And now more troops instead of TRUTH with Mr. Bush's address to the nation last night. On the eve of international celebration for a man of peace, Mr. Bush's announces escalation, not de-escalation in warfare and then proceeds to make his first stop in the home state of Dr. King.

Those that have studied Dr. King can see what I see in those observations. Now, I'm not saying that I'm innocent. I've done my part in this industry while "asleep" promoting that of which is not to standard. I see teens and young adults wearing t-shirts with his image blinged out and think "Do they even have a clue?". Dr. King's legacy is not in jeopardy of fading, but of being twisted and molded into a false, shallow representation of the real deal. Well, the only and TRUE King Day, rather week, is upon us not only here in "The A" but across the country and worldwide in over 100 countries. At Mrs. King's homegoing her daughter, the dynamic and beautiful Elder Bernice King, delivered one serious message as she proceeded to speak every thought and metaphor that had gone through my mind over that week. Yet almost a year later, we are still suffering from the same complications of "cancer" from materialism, greed, militarism, violence, poverty, perversion, selfishness, racism and the list goes on. With that said I urge, rather I challenge you to stand up and utilize this day and every day for that matter for what it was made for: to inspire to aspire to better our lives and the lives of others through service and love. I dare you to really discover and re-discover who Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was and his "dream" which is our mission we have inherited to fulfill.

"God’s been waiting on us a long time to get it together."

Shout Outs... COMMON, WILL.I.AM and everyone else who worked on 'A Dream'. We need more tracks like this!

To EVERYONE who has reached out in prayer and well wishes with my mother's situation. The outpouring has been overwhelming and I have to admit hard to take in and process as someone who's accustomed to being a blessing to others. There's a lot of prayin' folk out there who love to click "forward". The biopsy was on Monday and we're waiting for the results. The daily emails, calls, text messages (you know I can text with the best of them) and visits. Not to name names, but I do want to thank in particular Steph D., Shamari (you have NO IDEA, your timing is so on, it's ridiculous), Claudia, eDDie & Anna and Elder D... too many to name, really. 2006 was most definitely a year of reference as prophesized and I can't help but see that all the changes that have happened around me has been God positioning me for such a time. I am so blessed, I just don't know what to do with myself!

To everyone, please do keep the family of Phyllis and slain DeKalb Co. sheriff- elect Derwin Brown in your thoughts and prayers. As most of you know, Mrs. Phyllis Brown transitioned on Christmas Eve. They've been through oh, so much.

Also, everyone that came out for Patti LaBelle's "The Gospel According to Patti" last month... Whooo, we had a show, didn't we! Yolanda Adams, Tina (Congratulations!) and Erica of Mary Mary, Judy and Dan of Impact (hope I made a difference), Mary Griffin, CeCi Pearson and Carlysia Levert, Jon Stanley, DC, Zuri, Aaliyah, Stephanie Dayton reppin' for Sister 2 Sister, Vonda (I still cannot believe that you remember me from '93! LOL), Emmanuel "Manny" Lewis, Patti Webster (well, you weren't there, but you know... LOL) and the rest of the crew!