Benaroya Hall Hosts 25th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

The public is invited to join King County employees in a free event at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle to honor the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. at noon on Thursday, Jan. 12.

Speakers at the celebration will include King County Executive Dow Constantine, County Council Chair Larry Gossett, and former King County Councilmember Bruce Laing, one of the leaders who worked to rename the county in honor of Dr. King 25 years ago. This is the silver anniversary of King County's annual remembrance, timed to coincide with the federal holiday weekend in Dr. King's honor, which is observed on Monday, Jan. 16.

The theme for 2012's celebration is, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

The celebration will include musical performances by Abráce, a Seattle-based group that builds inter-cultural understanding through music, along with the reunited MLK Employee Singers, county employees who have performed at previous celebrations. 

County employees were asked to be part of the Silver Anniversary celebration by reflecting on this year’s theme, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’” Some of those reflections will be shared at the event. The event will also feature the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Essay Award ceremony, sponsored by the King County Civil Rights Commission.

Things to know if you go:

Benaroya Hall is accessible. Sign language interpretation will be provided. Other reasonable accommodations will be provided upon advance request. For more information or to request reasonable accommodations, please contact Bailey de Iongh in the King County Office of Civil Rights at 206-296-7652. 

Time & Location: Thursday, January 12, 2012
Noon – 1 p.m.
Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall
200 University St., Seattle