Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend Events

The Asheville-Buncombe County Martin Luther King, Jr. Association, will observe the 80th birthday of the civil rights leader with a series of events from Thursday, January 15 through Monday, January 19, 2009.

Youth Celebration
Thursday, January 15
The weekend begins with the annual Youth Celebration and Awards Ceremony on Thursday, January 15 at 4 p.m. at the Diana Wortham Theater at Pack Place. Entertainment includes a special presentation by the youth of the W.C. Reid Center for Creative Arts of Street Corner Blues, written by Anthony Alexander and directed by LaVone Griffin. FREE.

Prayer Breakfast
Saturday, January 17
The 28th annual Prayer Breakfast will be held at the Grove Park Inn
Saturday, January 17 at 8:30 a.m. The keynote speaker will be Dr.
Bernard LaFayette, a leader in the movement for peace and nonviolent
conflict resolution for more than 40 years. He directs the Center for
Nonviolence and Peace Studies at the University of Rhode Island and
serves as chairman of the Rhode Island Select Commission on Race and
Police-Community Relations.
Tickets to the Prayer Breakfast are $20 for adults, $16 for youth 12
and under, and $30 for patrons. Tickets are available at the YMI
Cultural Center at Eagle & Market Streets. Tickets and more
information are also available by phone at (828) 335-6896.
Peace Walk & Rally

Monday, January 19
On Monday, January 19, the annual Peace Walk and rally will begin
at noon at Nazareth First Baptist Church at the corner of Martin Luther
King Boulevard and Pine Street. Marchers will walk north to the MLK
Park, at the corner of Mountain Street, for a program of music and
speeches. Participants are asked to bring canned or other nonperishable
food items for Manna Food Bank. FREE.

Following the program, everyone is invited to St. James AME Church for its annual fish fry sandwich lunch.

Candlelight Service
Monday, January 19
Monday evening at 6 p.m. will be a candle-lighting ceremony at St.
Matthias Episcopal Church at 1 Dundee Street, with music by the
Reynolds-Miller Chorale, Trevor Chavis, Director. Twelve area nonprofit
organizations will be honored, and the 2009 Martin Luther King, Jr.
Award will be presented to a Buncombe County resident. FREE
The celebration events are cosponsored by the City of Asheville and Buncombe County.