Arlington MLK Celebration Announces Keynote Speaker and Events
By City of Arlington, TX
Posted on January 07, 2015, January 07, 2015

Articles MLK Celebration

View the flyer

The Arlington Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee has confirmed State Senator Royce West as the keynote speaker for the MLK Advancing the Dream Awards Banquet on Friday, Jan. 16.

Senator West is a distinguished alumnus of UT-Arlington where he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees. He received a juris doctor from the University of Houston. Since 1993, he has served as a Texas senator, representing District 23. He has been named by Texas Monthly as one of the 25 Most Powerful People in Texas Politics.

During the Awards Banquet, scholarships will be presented to Arlington area youth who are excelling in art and literature. The scholarships are sponsored by Atmos Energy. At the banquet, the community will celebrate the nominees and recipients of the MLK Advancing the Dream Awards in Community, Education and Government. KTVT CBS 11 Elizabeth Dinh will be the celebrity emcee. Tickets for the banquet are now on sale and can be purchased at www.UTATickets.com.

The Arlington MLK Celebration begins Thursday, Jan. 15 with a ribbon cutting of the Smithsonian Institution's Changing America Exhibit at Tarrant County College Southeast Campus. The five-day celebration also includes a Step Show Competition, Multicultural Festival, Spoken Word, Ecumenical Service, Day of Service and Youth Musical Extravaganza.

The Arlington MLK Celebration started in 1989 with a worship service at First United Methodist Church on Dr. King's birthday. The celebration has since evolved into one of the largest in the country, spanning five days and involving thousands of participants from many ethnic and religious backgrounds.

The founding sponsors are City of Arlington, Arlington Independent School District, UT Arlington, Tarrant County College and the Arlington Ministerial Association.

For a complete listing of 2015 events, scholarship winners, celebration history and more, visit www.ArlingtonMLK.com. For more information, call 817-459-5384 or 817-832-3470

News