Events around Madison honor life, work of Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service. Many events this year invite Madison residents of all backgrounds to celebrate King’s legacy by observing “A Day On, Not A Day Off.”

• Friday, Jan. 15: All are invited to the 23rd annual Free Community Dinner, 4:30-7 p.m., at UW–Madison’s Gordon Commons, 717 W. Johnson St. For more information, contact Ruth Gundlach, 608-233-5880.
• Sunday, Jan. 17: The 26th annual Urban League Guild Youth Recognition Breakfast honors nearly 200 area middle- and high-school students for their work in school and the community. This event, suitable for families, takes place at 8 a.m. (doors open at 7:30 a.m.) at Edgewood High School, 2219 Monroe St. Cost is $5. For tickets, contact Katrice McNeal at 608-729-1200.

Volunteers are also needed for setup on the evening of Jan. 17 and early the morning of Jan. 18; to sign up, contact Derek Johnson at 608-729-1248.

• Monday, Jan. 18 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day): The 12th annual Youth Service Day begins at 8 a.m. at Monona Terrace, One John Nolen Drive. More than 500 students will participate in youth-led educational forums and community volunteer projects. For more information, contact JoAnne Akyeampong at 608-729-1236 or jakyeampong@ulgm.org.

The 30th annual State of Wisconsin Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be held on the first floor of the Capitol Rotunda from noon-3 p.m. The program features music, readings and more; expected speakers include Gov. Jim Doyle. For more information, contact Jonathan Overby at 608-825-2000.

The 25th annual Martin Luther King Jr. City-County Observance, titled “Our Challenge: Community and Peace,” begins at 6 p.m. in the Overture Center’s Capitol Theatre, 201 State St. The evening, highlighted by a speech from former King executive staff member Dorothy Cotton, also includes Madison and Dane County’s MLK Humanitarian Awards and the MLK Community Choir. For more information, contact Mona Adams Winston, 608-239-7707 or Edward Lee, 608-213-7907.

Cotton, this year’s distinguished keynote speaker, uses song, words and laughter in pursuit of peace and justice. A member of King’s executive staff, she has served as education director for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and vice president for field operations for the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. At the 1967 SCLC conference, King stated, “Dorothy Cotton’s bravery, insight and steadfastness have been invaluable to the Movement.” This is her first visit to Madison.

• On Jan. 18, Madison Metro bus schedules operate on alternate schedules. Campus routes 80, 84 and 85 follow recess schedules, while most major city routes follow Saturday schedules. In addition, all standing paratransit rides are canceled. Maps of all bus detours and updated bus schedules are available at http://www.mymetrobus.com. For more information, contact Metro at 608-266-4466.