Ways to observe MLK Day [The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.C.]

Jan. 14--Martin Luther King Jr. Day events are already under way in Durham, which will mark the holiday with a march, music, speeches, prayer and discussions.

The Durham Martin Luther King Jr. Steering Committee's MLK programs are themed "The Dream Lives: Second Chances, Restored Vision & New Hope in a Broken Society." The main event is a MLK Day Unity March and Rally Monday downtown. Marchers will gather at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the N.C. Mutual Insurance building on West Chapel Hill Street and march to First Presbyterian on East Main Street, where there will be a rally with speakers including U.S. Rep. David Price, Durham Mayor Bill Bell, County Commissioners and others. Pastors will pray for the youths of our community, peace around the world and to take care of women in our community.

Upcoming MLK events:

TODAY:

-- Antioch Builds Community and the Durham MLK Steering Committee are sponsoring a Faith, Partnership & Re--Entry Conference from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.Jan. 14 at Antioch Baptist Church, 1415 Holloway St. The cost is $10 for lunch and materials. The goal is to bring together clergy and laity to address how they can help ex--prisoners returning to society. For information, call (919) 688--8893.

-- Durham Parks and Recreation will have a King celebration from 2 to 4 p.m.Jan. 14 with several things to see and do at W.D. Hill Recreation Center, 1308 Fayetteville Road. There will be an art show, poetry readings, displays and activities for children. Anyone who wants to read poetry about King may participate. At 3:30 p.m., there will be a dance performance in the gym.

-- The Durham Symphony Orchestra and the N.C. Central University Choir and Alumni Choir will perform A Musical Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. at 7 p.m. at the Durham Armory, 220 Foster St. Directed by William Henry Curry, the Durham Symphony and NCCU choirs will perform selections from Curry's work, "Eulogy for a Dream," originally premiered in 1999 by the Indianapolis Symphony, and based on the speeches and writings of King. Richard Banks, assistant professor of music and director of the choir, will conduct. For tickets, visit www.durhamsymphony.org or call (919) 491--6576.

SUNDAY:

-- Riverside Church's Senior Minister Emeritus Rev. James A. Forbes Jr. will talk about Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy when he delivers the MLK Day sermon at 11 a.m. Sunday at Watts Street Baptist Church, 800 Watts St., Durham. Forbes grew up in Raleigh and served at Binkley Baptist Church in Chapel Hill in the 1960s. His brother the Rev. David C. Forbes Sr. recently retired as senior minister of Christian Faith Baptist Church in Raleigh. James Forbes' sermon will be followed by a luncheon and question--and--answer session in the fellowship hall. Lunch reservations can be made by calling the church office at (919) 688--1366.

-- Political strategist and commentator Donna Brazile will give the keynote address for Duke University's Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration at 3 p.m. Sunday in Duke Chapel. The program includes music and dance to celebrate King's life. Brazile is the vice chair of voter registration and participation for the Democratic National Committee. The event is free, with parking available in the Bryan Center deck.

-- Faith, Hope & Justice Ministries, led by Rev. Curtis E. Gatewood, will hold its second annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at St. Joseph's AME Church, 2521 Fayetteville St., Durham. The theme is "Standing on the Promises." Gatewood is a community organizer for the North Carolina NAACP and will discuss the upcoming HK on J march.

MONDAY, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY:

-- MLK Day observances begin at 7 a.m. Monday with the 32nd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Triangle Interfaith Prayer Breakfast at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center, 4700 Emperor Boulevard. Sen. Kay Hagan is slated to speak, along with keynote speaker Cynthia Marshall, civic leader and president of AT&T North Carolina. The breakfast is free and attended by several hundred people, including government officials. It's free. For information, call Doris Ingram--Randal of the Durham MLK Steering Committee at (919) 251--8535 or find more Triangle--wide MLK events at www.king--raleigh.org.

-- The MLK Unity March and Rally begins at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the N.C. Mutual Life Insurance Company building at 411 W. Chapel Hill St. and marches down to First Presbyterian Church, 305 E. Main St., where there will be a rally at noon.

-- The Greater Triangle United Way will hold a Day of Service from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday in Bay 7 of American Tobacco Campus. Volunteers are needed to assemble kits, sort books, writing letters and other jobs. Volunteers should also bring donations of books and nonperishable food. To volunteer, contact Brandon Hudson at [email protected] or (919) 308--3900.

-- The sixth annual MLK Million Meals Project for Stop Hunger Now will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday at the Freeman Center at Duke University, 1415 Faber St.Duke, Durham Rotary Club and N.C. Central University hope to package 80,000 meals for the hungry. For information, email [email protected].

-- A forum will address "The Racial Justice Act: Behind the Politics" featuring exoneree Darryl Hunt will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 810 W. Chapel Hill St., in the school gym. The documentary "The Trials of Darryl Hunt," who spent two decades in prison before his exoneration, will be screened at 2:15 p.m.Frank Stasio will moderate a panel discussion at 4 p.m. featuring Hunt, Justice Clinic co--director Mark Rabil, Forsyth County assistant capital defender James Coleman Jr., Duke law professor John S. Bradway, state Sen. Floyd McKissick Jr., Stephen Dear of People of Faith Against the Death Penalty and Rev. Daniel McLellan, priest at Immaculate Conception.

-- Author Paula Young Shelton, daughter of civil rights leader Andrew Young, will read from her children's book, "Child of the Civil Rights Movement" and participate in a Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Party Monday in front of Northgate Books at Northgate Mall, 1058 W. Club Boulevard. She will read to preschoolers at 10 a.m. and noon for elementary school age children. Shelton will speak about growing up in Atlanta during segregation and will lead the children in freedom songs and crafts. There will also be birthday cake and voter registration. Party attendees are asked to donate nonperishable food or toiletry items, including diapers, for Urban Ministries of Durham.

Sponsors include N.C. MomsRising, the Durham Mothers Club, the Chapel Hill/ Carrboro Mothers Club and Lango Kids.

-- The Durham MLK Steering Committee will hold its annual religious service at 6 p.m. Monday at Kings Park International Church, 1305 Odyssey Dr. The keynote speaker is Emory University professor Teresa Fry Brown. The Durham Community Choir and the Durham MLK Youth Choir will perform.

-- An exhibit by the artist Franco will be on display Monday through Feb. 29 in the Strickland Lobby of the American Tobacco Campus. The exhibit is titled "Franco @ American Tobacco: Freedom. Justice. Equality." The pieces are colorful collages mixing famous activist figures with their significant quotations illustrating the importance of human rights, equality, freedom and justice. The event will kick--off with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday featuring neo--soul singer Kim Arrington.

TUESDAY:

Durham Technical Community College will hold a MLK celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Phail Wynn Center featuring dance performances, a civility chat and service learning project.

WEDNESDAY:

N.C. Central University will hold a MLK Convocation at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday in the B.N. Duke Auditorium. NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms will deliver the address. After the convocation, there will be a rally at the Shepard House. The event is free and open to the public.

FEB. 4:

The Grand 10th Annual Durham Martin Luther King Jr. Parade will be held at noon Feb. 4 on Fayetteville Street. For details, visit www.spectacularmag.com/Durham_MLK_Parade.html.

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