2021 MLK Day of Celebration Community Letter

Greetings!

We have all had to adjust and adapt to the numerous challenges brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic. We know how much you value the opportunity to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy at our annual Day of Celebration. Due to the coronavirus, we will not be holding our in-person celebration, however; we are excited to share with you our exciting plans on how we can still honor and celebrate the legacy of Dr. King.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan is pleased to announce that our 36th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration will be aired on WILX TV10 Monday, January 18, 2021 from 7 –

8 p.m.

This year’s theme is: “Out of a Mountain of Despair, a Stone of Hope.” Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Bernice King, the youngest child of civil rights leaders Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Dr. Bernice King is a global thought leader, orator, peace advocate, and Chief Executive Officer of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center), which was founded by her mother, Coretta Scott King, in 1968.

Since 1981, the Commission has been a presence in the mid-Michigan region, initially as an advocate for a national holiday in Dr. King’s honor and we now host the largest luncheon event honoring Dr. King; we are also the longest running MLK Commission in the nation. Proceeds raised during this event are used to support education, anti-hunger initiatives, and community service organizations.

Although our celebration will be aired on television, there are still several ways for you to participate in the 2021 day of celebration:

1. Set a reminder and save the date for the Day of Celebration on WILX TV 10

2. Purchase an Advertisement in our 2021 Digital Ad Book. You can fill out the digital advertising form and return to GLMLKADS@Gmail.com

3. Become a Corporate Sponsor. Various opportunities and levels of sponsorship are available. For more information, please contact:

• Elaine Hardy at ehardy@cityofeastlansing.com or (517) 319-6942

• Tristan Wright at Tristan@lepfa.com or (517) 980-0304

We look forward to honoring and celebrating the legacy of Dr. King with you on Monday, January 18, 2021, for the 36th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration. We invite you to connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for more information and updates!

Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

Elaine Hardy

Chair

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan