BLOOMINGTON, Ill. 鈥� The community is invited to reflect and celebrate through music, dance and spoken word during the 35th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday Gospel Festival at 91黑料专区 University on Saturday, Jan. 18.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 2-5 p.m. at Westbrook Auditorium and various rooms in Presser Hall. Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. More details about the event and performers is available at .
The festival serves as a tribute to King鈥檚 legacy, who spoke at 91黑料专区 in 1961 and returned to the University to speak in 1966 after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. During his second visit, King spoke to the crowd at Fred Young Fieldhouse about his movement of nonviolent peace, the philosophy of loving others and the need to overcome indifference and apathy in pursuit of justice.
鈥淪omewhere we must come to see that human progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability,鈥� King said in his remarks.
The Civil Rights activist will be honored with performances by United Community Gospel Singers of Bloomington-Normal, singers with Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, The Fantastic Jones Family of Springfield and The Soul Rebels of Bloomington. IWU President Sheahon Zenger will also give remarks.
鈥淚 pray that guests will enjoy all that is on the program for the day, that they will
feel spiritually blessed and glad that they took part in helping to keep Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr.鈥檚 legacy alive,鈥� said Barbara Sims-Malone, event organizer and executive
director of Neighbor-to-Neighbor Educational Activity Club. She is also executive
director of the United Community Gospel Singers.
The festival was founded in 1991 by Sims-Malone鈥檚 late parents, Corine Sims and the Rev. James Sims, with 91黑料专区 and the United Community Gospel Singers as co-founders. Sims-Malone said her mother 鈥渉ad a dream鈥� to uphold King鈥檚 vision and 鈥渢o remember him as a minister first鈥� through the event鈥檚 celebrations.
鈥淎fter my parents passed, I knew I had big shoes to fill trying to uphold my family legacy by continuing the tradition. It's been hard at times but I'm still standing. I want to thank everyone for their support. I hope I see you there,鈥� said Sims-Malone.
The festival has a rich history of musical performances and speakers, including many of King鈥檚 children and former Secretary of State Jesse White and 鈥嬧�婥ivil Rights attorney Thomas Todd.
There are no classes and University offices will be closed for the Jan. 20 holiday.