WPR Staff
Press Release

Listen live on Wisconsin Public Radio on Jan. 20 at noon to Wisconsin’s 45th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute and Ceremony

 

By , Wisconsin Public Radio - Jan 9th, 2025 02:38 pm
Dr. Jonathan Øverby. Photo credit: WPR.

Dr. Jonathan Øverby. Photo credit: WPR.

Madison, Wis. – Join in the celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by tuning in to Wisconsin Public Radio’s broadcast of Wisconsin’s 45th Annual Tribute and Ceremony from the Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 20. The program is produced, directed, and hosted by Dr. Jonathan Øverby, executive producer and host of WPR’s Saturday evening world music program “The Road to Higher Ground with Jonathan Øverby.”

The Annual Tribute and Ceremony is Wisconsin’s official state ceremony and is the oldest official MLK state celebration in the U.S. The theme of this year’s program is “Justice Lives Here.” Marcelia N. Nicholson, chair of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, will give the keynote address. There will be music and dance performances from the Gospel Music According to Chicago Mass Choir, violinist Dr. Brianna Ware-Boggs, and the MLK Multi-Cultural Dance Collective. The event will also include presentations of MLK Heritage Awards.

“Justice Lives Here” honors the impact of leaders and ordinary citizens in their communities, living the spirit of Dr. King’s belief in the power of equality, according to Øverby. “We will celebrate Dr. King’s birthday and reflect on the ongoing work in communities large and small to pursue Dr. King’s dream,” Øverby said. “Dr. King’s legacy of service, his vision of equal rights for Black Americans, and his deep belief that we will get to the promised land of equality continues to inspire people here at home and around the world.”

“We are proud to help Wisconsin honor and learn from the work of Dr. King,” WPR Director Sarah Ashworth said. “This Annual Tribute and Ceremony is a chance for Wisconsinites to remember and reconnect with his legacy.”

The Annual Tribute and Ceremony in the State Capitol Rotunda at 2 E. Main St in Madison is free and open to the public. It will be broadcast live at noon on Jan. 20 on WPR Music stations across Wisconsin, on wpr.org and the WPR app. It will be rebroadcast at 8 p.m. Jan. 20 on WPR News stations, and PBS Wisconsin will air an edited highlights program on its Wisconsin Channel from 9-10 p.m. An archive will be available for later viewing at pbswisconsin.org.

Find more details at wpr.org/mlk

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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