When The MLK Steering Committee hosts the 27th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 16, it will mark the continuation of one of America's longest-running annual King tributes.
Only Milwaukee and Atlanta have hosted celebrations each year since 1984.
This year's free event -- held, as always, at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, kicks off at 1 p.m. in the center's Uihlein Hall with a program highlighting youth art, speech and writing.
Young people will interpret the theme "The World: A Neighborhood, A Brotherhood," an idea drawn from the speeches and writings of Dr. King.
Afterward, there will be performances by Capita Production's "We Are the Drums," Discovering Our Destiny, Latino Arts Mariachi Juvenil and the Milwaukee Chinese Youth Orchestra.
Finally, the United States Postal Service will use the event -- co-chaired by Tom Barrett, Lee Holloway and the Marcus Center board chair Bev Greenberg -- to unveil the 2011 Black Heritage Stamp in Milwaukee.
A public reception caps the event at 3 p.m.
Some other area MLK celebrations include:
Also, on Sunday, The Times Cinema will re-screen the gospel-inspired film, "Leave It At the Altar," at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 and VIP seats are $20. Purchase tickets at the box office or online at LeaveItAtTheAltar.com.
The YMCA will hold their 14th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Frontier Airlines Center. The event also serves as a ceremony for local organizations La Causa Inc. and Professional Dimensions, who will be awarded the Lincoln Gaines and Potawatomi Bingo Casino Diversity & Inclusion Awards, respectively.
Discovery World will be open on Monday, Jan. 17, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., and will screen acclaimed Civil Rights documentary film "Eyes On the Prize" in the venue's digital theater.
Discovery World will show two parts -- "Ain't Scared Of Your Jails (1960-1961)" and "No Easy Walk (1961-1963)" -- of the seven-part, 14-hour documentary, in rotation all day.
Admission is $5 for students.
City Year Milwaukee organizes a day of service on Monday, Jan. 17 in honor of King's birthday.
More than 250 volunteers alongside City Year corps members and staffers will "paint murals, beautify classrooms and create a positive learning environment" at South Division High School, 1515 W. Lapham Blvd., from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Registration begins at 9 and service work begins at 10.
At 1 p.m. on Monday, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 1927 N. 4th St., will host a commemorative King program followed by a four-block Dr. Martin Luther King Day Justice Rally and March to the statue of King on King Drive, just north of Walnut.
There will be an open mic where marchers can reflect of the work of Dr. King. For more details, contact the Milwaukee Justice Coalition's Julie Enslow at (414) 964-9478.
