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�Many Faces, One Community� Mesa Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

December 21 , 2004 by Editor

The City of Mesa will once again celebrate the birthday of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a weekend celebration on Jan. 14-17, 2005, with events to include a night of tribute, celebration breakfast, unity parade and festival. The theme of this year�s celebration is "Many Faces, One Community."

Saturday, Jan. 15, 7 p.m., A Night of Tribute: An evening celebration of Dr. King�s legacy and a tribute to Mesa�s youth, featuring music by local choirs, inspirational messages from Dr. King�s speeches, and presentations of award-winning essays and posters by Mesa students. All are welcome. The program will take place at the Dobson High School Auditorium, 1501 W. Guadalupe; call (602) 463-4945 for more information.

Monday, Jan. 17, 8 a.m., Celebration Breakfast: A community breakfast celebration featuring special music, inspirational messages, and presentation of the Veora E. Johnson Spirit of Unity Award. Registration for the community breakfast starts at 7 a.m. and the event begins at 8 a.m. at the Mesa Convention Center, 201 N. Center St. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Matthew C. Whitaker of Arizona State University. Cost is $30 per person, and a table of eight can be reserved for $240. Call (480) 644-5040 for more information.

Monday, Jan. 17, 11 a.m., MLK Parade: A unity parade will begin at 11 a.m. in downtown Mesa at Robson and Main Streets, proceed east on Main to Center Street, and north on Center to the Mesa Amphitheatre, at the corner of Center and University. The parade will echo the theme of this year�s celebration, "Many Faces, One Community", and will include floats, marching groups, school organizations and participants of all ages. For more information, call (480) 644-EVENT.

Monday, Jan. 17, 12 to 3 p.m., MLK Festival: The festival begins immediately after the parade at the Mesa Amphitheatre, and includes food, carnival rides and entertainment. Admission to the festival is free; food and novelty item vendors will charge for their products. The festival will end at 3 p.m. For more information, call (480) 644-EVENT.

Photos available upon request: contact Rob Price at (480) 644-3326.