Traverse City Human Rights Commission
Special Events Committee

Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebrated and Remembered:

::: Pre-program African Drumming :::

Rodrick Russell Ensemble - One Drum

The Rodrick Russell Ensemble - One Drum, will be performing as we enter the venue to the beat of traditional African drumming. Rod has studied under a number of African percussion masters in Senegal. Mr. Russell is the founder of One Drum, an evolving drumming group, promotion company, and African drum building, sales and repair center. Rod Russell has been a popular on-air personality at WNMC radio since 1978, hosting “Africa and Beyond” every Wednesday from 7-9 pm. Recently, Rod brought Senegalese master drummer Souleymane N'Diaye to perform in concert and teach traditional African drumming in Northern Michigan. — SOULEYMANE N'DIAYE

::: Spoken Word :::

Mike Nunn in a Solo Performance

Mike is a popular actor frequently seen at the Old Town Playhouse in Traverse City. — OLD TOWN PLAYHOUSE

::: Opening Music :::

Claudia Schmidt
accompanied by Steve Stargardt

Michigan native Claudia Schmidt has covered a lot of musical ground in twenty-six years as a touring professional, traversing North America as well as Europe, in venues ranging from intimate clubs to 4,000 seat theatres, and festival stages in front of 25,000 rapt listeners. She is also familiar with the mediums of radio and TV, including regular stints on Public Radio International's "A Prairie Home Companion" in its early incarnation, and starring in an hour-long documentary called "I Sing Because I Can't Fly," produced by KTCA TV in St. Paul. She wrote an award-winning score and performed in the Goodman Theatre's Chicago production of Brecht's "Good Person of Szechuan."

Claudia has recorded eleven albums of mostly original songs, exploring folk, blues, and jazz idioms featuring her acclaimed 12 string guitar, mountain dulcimer, and incredible vocals. — CLAUDIA SCHIMIDT

Steve Stargardt

Steve started studying piano seriously in the fifth grade and carried on classical music studies all the way through his graduation from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati (dual majors in education and piano performance.)

::: Welcome :::

Pastor John Ellinger of Central United Methodist Church

::: Greetings & Introductions :::

M'Lynn Hartwell, Human Rights Commission Special Events Chair

M'Lynn Hartwell will welcome our audience and guests.

::: Our Esteemed Guest Speaker :::

Tricia Harris, Executive Director, Social Genesis, Inc.

Tricia Harris, featured keynote speaker at Traverse City Human Rights Commission Sponsored Martin Luther King Day event January 15, 2006 (Click image to download a 4"x5" 300 dpi media photo)

Her presentation, “Are You Sleeping Through the Revolution?” will address Dr. King's triple evils (poverty, racism, war) and how we are sleeping during great social change in the 21st century.

In her words:

I started working for Mrs. Coretta Scott King and the King Family when I was 18 years old. Last year I ended my tenure after nine years as the chief operating officer for the public and private affairs of Dr. King's legacy. During that time, I delivered well over 50 speeches surrounding Dr. King's life and his core tenants. I was given a tremendous head-start in my life, through his life. I feel a deep responsibility to bring relevance to Dr. King's core principles to present and future generations.

I decided to join the speaking circuit because I am encouraged by Dr. King's words: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." I am armed with the sensibilities and awareness that was passed on to me by the universal, timeless truths that he espoused. He warned against sleeping through a revolution, he implored America to have the courage to embrace a "radical revolution of values" that placed humanity before worldly aspirations. Today, Dr. King's message is largely filtered, sanitized and no longer resembles his original intent. Those of us - and there are many, who are aware that his message had become diluted have a responsibility to speak out - we are stewards of his legacy. If we remain silent we are guilty of being an accomplice to those that seek to minimize or even eliminate Dr. King's truth.

::: Music :::

Rodrick Russell Ensemble - One Drum

African drumming with Rodrick Russell and his One Drum ensemble

::: I Have a Dream :::

“I Have a Dream” speech: Martin Luther King, Jr.

::: Music :::

Claudia Schmidt, Steve Stargardt, Drumming, and audience participation.

::: Benediction :::

Rabbi Stacie “Chava” Bahle from Congregation Ahavat Shalom Synagogue.

::: Refreshments Served :::

Presented by the Traverse City Human Rights Commission
Co-Sponsors include: ACLU, Northwestern Michigan College, and Central United Methodist Church.

::: Traverse City Human Rights Commissioners :::

::: Presented by :::

::: Major Sponsors :::

::: Supporting Sponsors :::

::: Featured Speaker :::

Tricia Harris, Executive Director
Social Genesis, Inc.
1682 James Jackson Parkway
Atlanta, Georgia 30318
Phone (404) 348-4157  Fax (404) 348-4159

::: Featured Artists :::

::: American Sign Language Interpreter :::

Jackie Richer

::: Videography for Broadcast on TV2 :::

Karen Malofy

::: Refreshments :::

Courtesy of Central United Methodist Church Women's Guild

::: Venue :::

Central United Methodist Church
Reverend John Ellinger
222 Cass St.
Traverse City Michigan 49684
(231) 946-5191

::: Photos of Dr. King :::

http://www.itsablackthang.com/images/Art-Photo/anon-martin-luther-king.jpg
http://teachpol.tcnj.edu/amer_pol_hist/fi/000001cb.jpg
http://www.harley.com/people/images/martin-luther-king.jpg
http://ospiti.peacelink.it/mir/king.jpg
http://www.semo.edu/www/images/sectionPhotos/Mlk_01_2003.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/images/0307king_big.jpg
http://www.utsa.edu/today/images/graphics/mlk2.jpg
http://campus.hws.edu/new/update/photos/martinlutherkingjr3.jpg

::: This Information was Prepared by :::

M'Lynn Hartwell (231) 943-5050
Special Events Committee Chair