29th Annual State of Wisconsin Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Dare to Live your Dream”
“Dare to Live your Dream”
Musical numbers were performed by Highway to Heaven, MLK Community Choir (with pianist Michael Hillestad), Soles-Musica Mexicana, and soprano
Debbie Biddle, accompanied by Leotha Stanley on the piano. Diane Harris of UW-Madison First Wave delivered “For Emmett Till,” and Moziah Clark delivered
the “I Have A Dream” excerpt (a yearly tradition ‘assigned’ to a selected young student of color to deliver).
Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker Keith Beauchamp, a Louisiana native, delivered the keynote address. Beauchamp is known for his documentary
“The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till,” that caused the reopening of the 51-year old murder case of Emmett Till by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Jonathan Overby, Africasong Founder and executive director, with Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton, presented this year’s MLK awards to Will Allen and the Madison-area
Urban Ministry.
Will Allen is an urban farmer who transforms the cultivation, production, and delivery of healthy foods to underserved urban populations, while the Madison-
area Urban Ministry has worked for social justice for over three decades. Allen’s farming methods and educational programs started the nonprofit Growing Power,
which now produces health foods for uban centers. MUM is an interfaith coalition of congregations and individuals of all beliefs whose mission is to stand with
the poor and hurting, neighbors working together for social change. (An excerpt from the program booklet)
Toya Washington of WISN-TV in Milwaukee, emceed this memorable event in Madison.
Debbie Biddle, accompanied by Leotha Stanley on the piano. Diane Harris of UW-Madison First Wave delivered “For Emmett Till,” and Moziah Clark delivered
the “I Have A Dream” excerpt (a yearly tradition ‘assigned’ to a selected young student of color to deliver).
Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker Keith Beauchamp, a Louisiana native, delivered the keynote address. Beauchamp is known for his documentary
“The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till,” that caused the reopening of the 51-year old murder case of Emmett Till by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Jonathan Overby, Africasong Founder and executive director, with Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton, presented this year’s MLK awards to Will Allen and the Madison-area
Urban Ministry.
Will Allen is an urban farmer who transforms the cultivation, production, and delivery of healthy foods to underserved urban populations, while the Madison-
area Urban Ministry has worked for social justice for over three decades. Allen’s farming methods and educational programs started the nonprofit Growing Power,
which now produces health foods for uban centers. MUM is an interfaith coalition of congregations and individuals of all beliefs whose mission is to stand with
the poor and hurting, neighbors working together for social change. (An excerpt from the program booklet)
Toya Washington of WISN-TV in Milwaukee, emceed this memorable event in Madison.
(Clockwise) Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker Keith
Beauchamp, a Louisiana native, delivered the keynote address;
Madison Poet Laureate Fabu delivered the Invocation" in the
form of a poem, "I'll Make a Difference;" Jonathan Overby of
Africasong hosts the event every year; Soles-Musica Mexicana
sings "Quien Sera;" MLK Community Choir; Barbara McKinney
speaks in behalf of the Madison-area Urban Ministry, recipient of
the MLK Heritage Award; and Moziah Clark delivers "I Have A
Dream" excerpt.
Beauchamp, a Louisiana native, delivered the keynote address;
Madison Poet Laureate Fabu delivered the Invocation" in the
form of a poem, "I'll Make a Difference;" Jonathan Overby of
Africasong hosts the event every year; Soles-Musica Mexicana
sings "Quien Sera;" MLK Community Choir; Barbara McKinney
speaks in behalf of the Madison-area Urban Ministry, recipient of
the MLK Heritage Award; and Moziah Clark delivers "I Have A
Dream" excerpt.
By Heidi M. Pascual
The annual Wisconsin State celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Capitol
Rotunda on January 19, 2009 was definitely different from the previous years. It was extra
meaningful to everyone in attendance because the next day, January 20, would be the
inauguration of the first African American President of the United States, Barack Obama. People of
all color who came to celebrate MLK’s Holiday also celebrated Obama’s ascendancy to the White
House. It was a moment that all agreed was symbolic of MLK’s dream. It was a moment of
jubilation, for Obama’s success reflected what each and every youth of color can dream and strive
to achieve. Madison Poet Laureate Fabu read her poem for the occasion, titled “I’ll Make a
Difference,” which set the tone for the whole event in many ways.
The annual Wisconsin State celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Capitol
Rotunda on January 19, 2009 was definitely different from the previous years. It was extra
meaningful to everyone in attendance because the next day, January 20, would be the
inauguration of the first African American President of the United States, Barack Obama. People of
all color who came to celebrate MLK’s Holiday also celebrated Obama’s ascendancy to the White
House. It was a moment that all agreed was symbolic of MLK’s dream. It was a moment of
jubilation, for Obama’s success reflected what each and every youth of color can dream and strive
to achieve. Madison Poet Laureate Fabu read her poem for the occasion, titled “I’ll Make a
Difference,” which set the tone for the whole event in many ways.