Community Celebration Of Dr. Martin Luther King Set January 15
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Several local organizations have joined together to coordinate numerous activities to mark 40 years of community celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Partners in this effort are the Alleghany Highlands Arts Council, the Black Heritage Preservation Society, Dabney S. Lancaster Community College's Office of Student Activities, , Helping Other People Excel (H.O.P.E.), the McClinton Foundation, and the Western Alleghany Ministerial Association.
Events will begin Sunday afternoon January 15 at 3:00 pm with a Walk of Legacy sponsored by the Black Heritage Preservation Society. This will be the third year that members of the community will gather at City Hall and walk en mass to the Alleghany County Courthouse as a tribute to the peace marches established by Dr. King in the 1960's. For further information about the walk, contact Dr. Calvin McClinton at 962-6787.
A Community Pot Luck Supper will follow at Jeter Watson Center on Pine Street in Covington. H.O.P.E., working in conjunction with the Ministerial Association, has extended an open invitation to the entire community to bring a covered dish and participate, free of charge. Attendees are also encouraged to bring a can of food to be donated to the local Food Pantry. For information, call Wanda Moore at H.O.P.E., 962-2600.
On Monday, January 16 activities begin at Moomaw Center on the campus of Dabney S. Lancaster College at 11:00 am with an oral history presentation by Student Activities Coordinator Cynthia Botler. Ms. Botler has done extensive research on the origins of African-American history in the Alleghany Highlands. The DSLCC Student Senate will sell pizza during this time to benefit Stop Hunger Now. Ms. Botler can be reached at 863-2828.
At 1:00 pm there will be a press conference and speakers forum hosted by DSLCC President Dr. Richard Teaff. State and local dignitaries are invited to speak along with two other invited guests. Father LeBaron Taylor pastor of Emmanuel Episcopal Church will address the topic "The King Legacy: Christ for All - Justice for All. Honoring 40 Years of Community Celebration". Clifton Forge native Frank Davis, Jefferson High School Class of 1965, will share reflections on the origins of "The History of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in Alleghany County in 1972." Light refreshments will be served following the public forum.
The Alleghany Highlands Arts Council has arranged a day-long residency by the American Spiritual Ensemble. Featuring some of the finest classically trained voices in the United States, this ensemble performs around the world keeping the negro spiritual alive as an art form.
The ensemble will hold a Community Choir Workshop at 2:00 pm in Moomaw Center. The workshop is directed at students and adults who would like to learn vocal technique as well as some of the origins of 'the spiritual' The workshop is open to any interested parties at no charge thanks to a grant from the Alleghany Foundation. Anyone planning to participate should register by calling the Arts Council at 962-6220.
Activities will culminate with an evening concert by The American Spiritual Ensemble at Covington High School at 7:30 pm. The event is part of the Arts Council's Performing Arts Series. Since its inception by Dr. Everett McCorvey in 1995, this 23 member ensemble has thrilled audiences with their dynamic repertoire in theaters and opera houses around the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Houston Grand Opera and abroad in Germany, Britain, Japan, Spain and Scotland.
Ticket are $15 adults and $8 students and can be purchased at Music Unlimited, Owen’s Pharmacy and The Getting’ Place, as well as at the door the evening of the performance. Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more and can be arranged by contacting the Arts Council at 962-6220.
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