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Celebrating the dream
Numerous events to honor Martin Luther King Jr.
(Published January 12, 2004)

Numerous events are planned throughout the District, beginning this week, to celebrate the life and civil rights legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King. Jr. King’s birthday will be marked as a D.C. and federal holiday on Jan. 19.

The District’s 19th annual celebration will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 15 in the main auditorium of Building 46 at the University of the District of Columbia, 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW.

The free event, with the theme "Let Your Voice Ring," will include the presentation by Mayor Anthony A. Williams of the "Living the Dream" award, which is presented annually to a D.C. individual or group whose work is dedicated to fulfilling King’s dream of equality and justice for all.

Among the planned events:

• Shiloh Baptist Church will host the Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Breakfast at 9 a.m. Jan. 17. Cost is $17 and the church is located at Ninth and P streets NW. For more information: (202) 526-2606.

•The 19th Street Baptist Church will host the Sixth Annual Birthday Celebration for Dr. King at noon Jan. 17. This free event will be at the church at 4606 16th St. NW. For more information: (301) 670-4043.

• Israel Baptist Church will sponsor a Gospel Music Concert at 6 p.m. Jan. 17 at the church, 1251 saratoga Ave. NE. The event, featuring local and national recording artists, is free.

• A Youth Symposium, sponsored by the Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Com-mittee, will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Eastern Branch of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington, 261 17th St. SE. Lunch will be provided to participants.

• "Collective Voices" will be presented at the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial Library, 901 G St. NW, at 1 p.m. Jan. 17. The event is free.

• A Celebrity Celebration Performance, featuring local and national entertainers, will be presented free at 6 p.m. Jan. 18 at Lincoln Theater, 1215 U St. NW, sponsored by the Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Committee. For more information: (202) 328-6000.

• The United Planning Organization’s Martin Luther King memorial Breakfast will be at 7:45 a.m. on Jan. 19 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 2660 Woodley Road NW. Fee to attend is $30. For more information: (202) 238-4712.

• The Barney Circle Martin Luther King Day Anti-Crime Rally & March will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 19, beginning at Liberty Baptist Church, 527 kentucky Ave. SE. The event is free. For more information: (202) 544-0821.

• The Martin Luther King Friendship Cord Project will be at the Northeast Branch of the D.C. Public Library at 3:45 p.m. Jan. 20-26. Free. For more information: (202) 698-3320.

• The Interfaith "Prayer, Peace & Praise" Service will be held at Tenth Street Baptist Church, 1000 R St. NW, at 11 a.m. Jan. 19. Fee is $30. A parade will follow the service.

• A wreath-laying ceremony at the African-American Civil war Memorial will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 19. The memorial is located at Vermont Avenue and U Street NW adjacent to the Metro Station.

• A Black Tie Gala Reception will be held at the residence of the ambassador of France, 2221 Kalorama Road NW, at 6 p.m. Jan. 19. Tickets are required for this event, sponsored by the Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Committee. For more information : (703) 566-8040.

•The National Park Service will sponsor its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights Film Festival Jan. 18-24 at the Visitor Center of the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, 1411 W St. SE. Films will be shown from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each day of the festival. The program is free. Featured films will include "Eyes on the Prize," "The Long Walk Home," "Ghosts of Mississippi," "A History of the Civil Rights Movement" and "Our Friend Martin." Recommended for children 4-18. Groups of five or more are asked to reserve space by calling ahead. For information: (202) 426-5961.