Contact Cheryel Carpenter at 817-459-6404
December 21, 2004

The Revered William Dwight McKissic, Sr., a local historian and founder of Arlington’s Cornerstone Baptist Church, will be the keynote speaker at the Martin Luther King Jr. "Sharing the Dream" Banquet at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14.

McKissic established Cornerstone Baptist Church in 1983. He is the author of several books, including Beyond Roots II: If Anybody Asks You Who I Am and Moving From Fear to Faith. The Arkansas native is also an African American historian and guest lecturer.

The "Sharing the Dream" Banquet is the kick-off event for four days of celebration in Arlington. During the banquet, winners of the MLK Sharing the Dream Art and Essay contests will be presented and Wesley Nute, Jr., will read aloud his essay. The Sharing the Dream Art Contest winner, Pierce Coleman, will also be formally recognized. His art work appears on all T-shirts, posters and programs promoting the four-day celebration.

Tickets are on sale, and can be purchased at any Arlington Public Library, the Star-Telegram Customer Service Office at 1111 W. Abram St. or by calling 817-459-7217.

The program will also feature entertainment, including performances by Step By Step Dance Studio and the Juan Seguin High School Gospel Choir.

"This year’s celebration has something for everyone," said MLK Celebration Committee Chair James Rose. "We have worked all year to plan a celebration that pays tributes to Dr. King - the drum major who led our nation to greater heights through love and peace." For media only: James Rose can be reached at 817-713-6381.

The Sharing the Dream Banquet on January 14 is followed by three days of events, which include art and college awareness programs for children and teens, a step show, multicultural festival, worship service and musical extravaganza. (Flyer is attached)

The four-day celebration is sponsored by the Arlington Independent School District, Tarrant County College, Arlington Ministerial Association, the University of Texas at Arlington and the City of Arlington, in partnership with the Star-Telegram, JP Morgan Chase, TXU Electric Delivery, the United States Post Office, Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and Six Flags Over Texas.

Visit the MLK web site for details.