City of Stillwater NEWS | For Immediate Release
Above: The Burnin' Black Choir, from the 2008 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration
Celebrate Stillwater’s MLK Day Monday, Jan. 19
'Marching for Change: Promises Realized'
Click here for the Stillwater Public Library's Black History Month film series information
(STILLWATER, OKLA. / Jan. 5, 2009) — The historic election of former Sen. Barack Obama to president of the United States in 2008 gives great cause to celebrate the change Martin Luther King, Jr. centered his teachings and life around.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter,” said Martin Luther King, Jr.
All of Stillwater’s residents and Oklahoma State University students are invited to join the City of Stillwater’s Community Relations Committee in the March for Change: Promises Realized events slated for Monday, Jan. 19.
Events begin at 5 p.m. with food, music and fellowship at the First United Methodist Church Family Life Center at 7th and Duck and the commemorative freedom march to Mt. Zion Baptist Church at 902 S. Knoblock. There, a celebratory service will feature special guest, Rev. Willard Dallas, according to Stillwater Community Relations Committee Chair Rev. Stan Warfield.
“Four spirited choirs and a diversity poster contest with entries by Stillwater Middle School students will be on display. Those attending the event will be asked to vote on a People’s Choice Award,” Warfield said. “The march from the First United Methodist Church to Mt. Zion Baptist Church will begin at 6:45 p.m. We hope to see a large crowd for this historically significant event.”
Music will be provided a city-wide church choir concert featuring the Burnin' Black Choir, Mt. Zion Adult Choir, First United Methodist Choir and the International Hillcrest Baptist Church.
The event is sponsored by the City of Stillwater Community Relations Committee and facilitated by Exodus Event Management, LLC. For more information, please visit www.stillwater.org
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Courtesy of the Martin Luther King Celebration Committee (http://www.king-raleigh.org)
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Celebration
TOP TEN REASONS TO MARCH
1. Gain understanding and appreciation of the sacrifice and contributions of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
2. Cultivate a vision and desire that one day more “promises” will be realized.
3. Acknowledge the economic, educational, and social remedies which have resulted from King’s life.
4. Help others understand, by your presence, that the King Holiday is important.
5. Acknowledge that the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration is a confirmation of the challenges still facing all members of our society.
6. Set a positive example for young people by participating in a civic event which helps reinforce values of economic justice, peace, and respect for all cultures.
7. To be present if you’ve never marched before.
8. Help inspire and provide a sense of aspiration for youth in our community.
9. Show support publicly for a message that is still shaping the moral fabric and future of our nation.
10. Value the opportunity to march as an appropriate and honorable response to today’s realities and opportunities.
Contact: Sherry Fletcher, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Phone: 405.742.8362
E-mail: sfletcher@stillwater.org
Web: stillwater.org