Washington National Cathedral Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Washington, D.C. – On Monday, January 19, Washington National Cathedral will host “All God’s Children,” its annual tribute celebrating the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The event will feature musical and poetry performances presented by the District’s rich performing arts community, celebrating the lessons of Dr. King and lifting up a vision for peace and justice in our lifetime.
The Cathedral played an important role in the life and history of Martin Luther King, Jr. King delivered the final Sunday sermon of his life from the Cathedral’s Canterbury Pulpit just a few days before his assassination. A memorial service for King was held later that same week.
Admission is the donation of either a new children’s book or a non-perishable food item. Washington National Cathedral is also partnering with the SGI-USA Washington D.C. Buddhist Culture Center to help homeless families in the area through a MLK Day Clothing Drive.
Media are invited to the event and are encouraged to list events in their community calendars. Please contact Meredith MacKenzie at the West End Strategy Team to RSVP for events or for more information at (202) 427-2007 or via email at meredith@westendstrategy.com.
What: Martin Luther King Day Celebration
Where: Washington National Cathedral Nave
When: Monday, January 19, 2015, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Performances include:
Howard Gospel Choir – As the first college choir of its kind, Howard Gospel Choir is a trailblazer for all gospel music ministries on collegiate campuses across the globe. The choir has travelled extensively throughout the United States and most recently has headlined numerous tours to Denmark, Italy, Montenego, Slovakia and Sweden.
African Heritage Dancers and Drummers – Founded in 1973 by a native Washingtonian, the group provides at-risk children and teens with opportunities to develop their talents through educational and recreational outlets.
Soloist Francese Brooks and Dancer Mahkai Carroll – Brooks is a Trinidadian transplant, also a psalmist, visual artist and minister of the gospel for decades. Francese has performed at the White House, the JFK Center for the Performing Arts and Carnegie Hall, among other prestigious places. Carroll is a senior at Duke Ellington School.
Choir of the Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys – The Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys is an Episcopal School for children of low-income families that nurtures the spiritual, intellectual, social, physical and artistic development of its students in a Christian community of learners that welcomes boys of all faith traditions. Founded in 2008, it honors the legacy of the first African American Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, the Right Rev. John T. Walker.
Spoken Word Artist Tika Wallace – An eighth grader at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School in Falls Church, VA, Tika has been writing poetry for six months and enjoys participating in youth open mics in the metropolitan area. She has been involved in the D.C. Youth Slam Team and Poetry N.O.W.
Washington Performing Arts’ Children of the Gospel Choir – Formed in 1993 to celebrate the tradition and inspirational root of gospel music on America’s main stages, Washington Performing Arts’ Children of the Gospel Choir showcases uniquely talented young voices in their own distinctive style of high energy performances featuring works by local and national composers.
Emcees from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts – Founded to nurture and inspire passion for arts and learning in talented students who might not otherwise have an opportunity to develop their artistic skills, Duke Ellington remains the sole D.C. public high school to offer a dual curriculum encompassing professional arts training and academic enrichment.
In addition to the ceremony, Washington National Cathedral is partnering with the SGI–USA Buddhist Center, collecting adult coats, gently used business wear and warm clothing to benefit homeless families in the D.C. area.