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Local Events Celebrate The Life Of MLK

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Wichitans will have several of opportunities this month to celebrate the life of civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We have of list of events taking place over the federal holiday weekend.

You can participate in these events beginning this Thursday and continuing through Thursday next week.

Newman University’s MLK Unity March — Thursday, Jan. 17, 7 p.m.

The march begins at De Mattis Hall and ends at the St. John’s Chapel with a small program and tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. There will also be a MLK Distinguished Service Award that will be given to a faculty member, staff member or administrator for their service in keeping with the principles and ideals of Dr. King.

5th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Program — Friday, Jan. 18, 7 p.m.

Rev. Robert Johnson will be the keynote speaker at the 5th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Program at the Calvary Baptist Church (2653 N. Hillside). The theme of the event will be “We Are The Dream.” The program is sponsored by the Wichita Alumni Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Christian Faith Centre — Saturday, Jan. 19, 8 a.m.

Kick off a full day of celebrations at 8 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at the Christian Faith Centre, located at 1130 S. Broadway.

Afterward, a community parade takes place at 10 a.m. It begins in the parking lot of the Christian Faith Centre and winds through historic downtown Wichita. The march will end at the Chester I. Lewis Reflection Square.

The Kansas African American Museum — Saturday, Jan. 19, 6 p.m.  

Beginning at 6 p.m., The Kansas African American Museum will hold an MLK celebration at Chapel Hill  U.M.C., located at 1550 N. Chapel Hill St. The theme for this year is “United We Stand.” The Lincoln University Ensemble will perform and the program will feature special remarks from Gov. Laura Kelly and Rev. Kevass J. Harding.

A $5 button is required to take part the event.

ARISE's Heroes & Sheroes Awards Breakfast – Monday, Jan. 21, 7:30 a.m.

This celebration aims to honor supporters of arts education and diversity with its Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Heroes & Sheroes Award.

The event begins at 7:30 a.m. with a gala breakfast, and will include entertainment by the ARISE Ensemble.

It will be held at the St. James Episcopal Church, located at 3750 E. Douglas.

Individual tickets are $30 each.

Wichita Habitat for Humanity – Monday, Jan. 21, 8 a.m.

Wichita Habitat for Humanity (WHFH) volunteers will construct all of the interior and exterior walls of a five-bedroom house inside the Expo Hall of Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center. The project is a partnership between WHFH, Volunteer Kansas and the City of Wichita.

Greater Wichita Ministerial League — Monday, Jan. 21, 12–3 p.m.

This celebration on the King holiday, hosted by the Greater Wichita Ministerial League, will take place at the WSU MetroPlex, located at 5015 E. 29th St. N.

The theme of this year's event is “#Unity.” The guest speaker will be Bishop Marvin L. Winans, the senior pastor at the Perfecting Church in Detroit, Michigan.

Bethel College — Monday, Jan. 21, 7:00 p.m.

Bethel College in North Newton will be hosting an MLK event again this year in the Krehbiel Auditorium, located in the Fine Arts Center. 

Those attending will get a chance to hear a keynote address from Sherdeill H. Breathett Sr., the lead pastor of ROCK Christian Fellowship, as well as a medical administrator for the Division of Corrections of the Sedgwick County government.

Unity Commemoration — Thursday, Jan. 24, 5:30 p.m.

Wichita State University's Office of Diversity and Inclusion will host the school's 11th annual Unity Commemoration. The event takes place at the Rhatigan Student Center's Beggs Ballroom at Wichita State University.

Partcipants can learn about and reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. King, as well as collaboratively envision ways to carry forward his work. The event will also recognize the 2019 Drum Major Award recipient.

Follow Hugo Phan on Twitter @Hugo_Phan. To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org.

Hugo Phan is a Digital News Reporter at KMUW, and founding member of the KMUW Movie Club. After years of being a loyal listener, he signed up to be a KMUW volunteer and joined the station's college student group before becoming a digital assistant in 2013.