MLK Celebration at Convention Center on Jan. 20

Community Celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center on Jan. 20.

Tacoma's 26th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration takes place on Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center (1500 Broadway in Tacoma, WA). Doors will open at 10 a.m. and the event will start at 11 a.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food items for the MLK Food Drive benefitting the Allen AME Church.

"Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – at the age of 35 – was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his nonviolent, lifelong campaign for civil rights and social justice," said Committee Chairwoman Roslyn Smith. "And Tacoma's signature event this year, 'Youth Continuing the Legacy,' seeks to build upon his legacy of hope."

At this event, Human Rights Champion Award recipients Mark Martinez, Tom McCarthy, Laurie Davenport and Stella Haioulani will be recognized for their public service. 

Eric Boles will be this year's keynote speaker. Boles - a Tacoma resident and former National Football League player with the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers - is president of The Gamechangers, Inc. a training and consulting company whose leadership, team and personal development processes are used by a number of globally recognized companies.

The South Sound MLK Mass Choir will feature a youth component this year and perform under the direction of Council Member Victoria Woodards. There will also be performances by Bob Williams of Living Voices, who will take event attendees through the experiences of a student activist from Mississippi joining the struggle for civil rights; Poet Laureate Lucas Smiraldo; Pacific Lutheran University’s step team, Lute Nation; and Lincoln High School's drumline.  

In addition to free holiday on-street parking and free parking at Freighthouse Square (2501 E. D St.), which is easily accessible via LINK light rail from the Convention Center stop located directly in front of the event venue, there will also be signage and personnel directing event attendees to designated complimentary parking stalls that will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis at the following locations:

Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center (1500 Broadway) 
Pacific Plaza Garage (1125 Commerce St.)  
Park Plaza North (923 Commerce St.)

Additional information is available at cityoftacoma.org/mlk.