YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS AND EVENTS

City of Arlington

Friday, January 17, 2014

6:30 p.m. - Silver Anniversary Kick-Off Celebration! Arlington Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Banquet

Dinner, entertainment, scholarships and presentation of the first Arlington MLK Living Legend Awards. This year's theme,
Advancing the Dream: The Time is Now, features keynote speaker nationally-syndicated journalist Roland Martin. Also featuring
celebrity emcee Elizabeth Dinh with KTVT CBS 11.

Banquet Hosts: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

11:30 a.m. - MLK Step Competition (featuring Elementary, Junior High and High School Teams)

UT Arlington, Texas Hall, 701 W. Nedderman Dr.

Admission: $10 at the door, $5 for elementary students, all children 5 and under. Limited number of $5 pre-sale tickets available at the AISD Administration Building, 1203 W. Pioneer Pkwy.

3:30 p.m. - MLK “Advancing the Dream” Multicultural Festival

Free Admission!

TCC Southeast Campus - 2100 Southeast Pkwy. Cultural entertainment, fashion, food and fun. NEW This Year! Watch the film Freedom Riders, and excerpts from the documentary Latino Americans. See a pictorial timeline museum featuring the life of Dr. King.

7:30 p.m. - An Evening of Spoken Word

UT Arlington Bluebonnet Ballroom, 300 W. First St.

The competition grows stronger with a $1,000 cash prize to the winning poet! $15 Admission www.UTATickets.com.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

5 p.m. - A Dialogue on Diversity

First United Methodist Church, 313 N. Center

St. Join us to watch excerpts from the film, The Freedom Riders, and then take part in our community discussion.

6 p.m. - MLK “Advancing the Dream” - Hubert Moss Memorial Ecumenical Service

First United Methodist Church, 313 N. Center St.

The first Arlington MLK Celebration was held here - 25 years ago
in 1989, the doors opened for prayer and a community celebration of Dr. King's birthday. This year's service features Keynote speaker the Rev. Dr. Sheron Patterson. Holiday reception immediately follows service hosted by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Dr. Sheron Patterson

Dr. Sheron C. Patterson is a motivator, determined to help others find their greatness. As a cancer survivor, she knows the importance of living life on purpose.

She has spoken across the nation at events such as the “Women Thou Art Loosed” conference with Bishop T. D. Jakes and in Liberia, West Africa. For the past 20 years, she has served as an itinerate elder in the United Methodist Church and has been appointed as senior pastor of numerous congregations. She holds the distinction of being the first African-American woman to be ordained in the North Texas region of the United Methodist Church. These extraordinary accomplishments landed Dr. Patterson a place of honor in the National Women's Museum.

Dr. Patterson is currently the Communications Officer for the North Texas Region of the United Methodist Church. In this role, she leads brand positioning, new media product introductions, advertising, marketing and media relations. She serves on numerous boards, including the Southern Methodist University Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors for the Methodist Health System.

Dr. Patterson has been featured in Ebony, JET and Essence magazines, and on CNN and BET. Locally she is the relationships expert on Good Morning Texas, on Dallas' ABC affiliate WFAA. She is a veteran journalist who has hosted local and nationally syndicated radio and television programs. Dr. Patterson is the author of nine books. She holds an undergraduate degree from Spelman College in Atlanta, two Masters Degrees and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Dr. Patterson is married to Robert Patterson Sr. and together they have two sons, Robert Jr., and Christian.

Monday, January 20, 2014

9 a.m. - Veterans Breakfast and Economic Opportunity Fair

UT-Arlington Maverick Activity Center, 500 Nedderman Dr.

On the King holiday, representatives from many local service agencies provide educational, financial and health resources to military veterans and their families.

9 a.m. - MLK Day of Service

Make it a day on, not a day off. Join us in the spirit of service. Volunteers will meet at the Maverick Activity Center for community assignments. The first 250 will receive an Arlington MLK 25th anniversary commemorative T-shirt! Continental Breakfast hosted by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

6:30 p.m. - MLK “Advancing the Dream” Youth Musical Extravaganza