December 22, 2008
Annual King celebration holds a special significance in 2009
Augustana College and the community will gather on Jan. 17 for a musical celebration honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The annual tribute hosted by the college aims to bring people from throughout the Quad-Cities. It will begin at 7 p.m. in Centennial Hall.
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"This year is unique in that we are attempting to link Dr. King's dream to the reality of a Barack Obama presidency," said Mark Anderson, Augustana assistant dean of students and director of diversity services. "In many ways, Dr. King's dream will be realized when President Obama is sworn in during the Inauguration ceremony on Jan. 20, three days after our Augustana event."
The celebration holds a special significance for Anderson this year.
"As an Augustana administrator, local pastor, and parent of a current Augustana student, I recognize the significance of Dr. King's dream, but more importantly his life," he said. "If it were not for the efforts of Dr. King and others who died during the civil rights movement, I might not be serving as an assistant dean of student services at Augustana College."
Highlights of this year's program, themed "Lift EVERY Voice!", include performances by the Augustana Inspirational Gospel Choir, the Quad Cities Community Gospel Chorus, and youth praise dancers from three local churches. The evening's program will conclude with the collaboration of these groups in a mass choir performance.
The event also includes a dinner for choir members and praise dancers, a small reception for community leaders, program participants, selected Augustana students and staff, and a mini college fair which will begin at 6:30 p.m. just before the program.
