El Cerrito, CA: “Remember, Celebrate, Act, and embrace Dr. King’s dream!” That’s the enthusiastic message from Patricia Durham, event coordinator for the annual El Cerrito Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.
The El Cerrito community will honor King, share his message and celebrate his life on Monday, January 17, 2011 with a parade and rally. The event is free and all ages are welcome.
This year marks the twenty-second consecutive annual celebration in El Cerrito of the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The theme for this year’s event is “Embracing The Dream: From Chaos To Community.”
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Individuals and groups are invited to join the parade. After the parade, there will be a rally at El Cerrito High School. The program is expected to last approximately one hour.
Community members who wish to march in the parade should meet at 9:00 a.m. at the El Cerrito D.M.V., 6400 Manila Avenue, El Cerrito. The parade will leave the D.M.V. parking lot promptly at 9:30 a.m. lead by the El Cerrito High School Marching Band, and proceed along San Pablo Avenue, up Moeser Lane to Ashbury Avenue and arrive at El Cerrito High School Gymnasium at approximately 10:15 a.m.
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The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Rally will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the El Cerrito High School Gymnasium, 540 Ashbury Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530.
Assembly member Nancy Skinner will emcee the event. Assembly member Skinner was elected in 2008 to represent the Bay Area’s 14th Assembly District, which includes El Cerrito. Nationally renowned leader in the fight against global warming, Mrs. Skinner received both her Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources and her Masters in Education from University of California, Berkeley.
This year’s guest speaker is Dr. Rev. Darrell Wesley, Lieutenant Commander with the United States Navy and current ethics professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Chaplain Wesley has been honored with Navy and Marine Corps Commendation and Achievement Medals as well as other awards. He is an ordained minister in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Dr. Rev. Wesley will talk about how everyone can “Embrace The Dream”.
The Program also includes performances by:
- El Cerrito High School Marching Band
- Front and Center Horse Club – From Contra Costa County
- Gifted Blessed Hands – Praise Dance Team (A gift from God to interpret to the hearing impaired as well as others. Lead by Tonnette Polk from Pittsburg Unified School District.
- Portola Middle School Jazz Band
- Bay Area Line Dancers
- Students from Harding, Madera & Fairmont Elementary Schools
- Richmond Steelers Cheerleaders
- Soloist Crystal Kelly
- El Cerrito High School Black, Asian, South East Asian, Jewish, Latino & Gay Student Unions
- Plus, additional performers including standup poets, dancers, and singers.
The program will be broadcast live by More Public Radio Station via KECG, 88.1 FM.
The event is sponsored by the City of El Cerrito, St. Peter Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, the El Cerrito Branch NAACP and the West Contra Costa County Unified School District.
Posted on behalf of the City of El Cerrito
