Martin Luther King Jr. tributes planned next week

The Rev. McKinney

In Health Sciences Lobby

“Affirming the Dream Through Action,” a UW Health Sciences birthday tribute in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be held on Thursday, Jan. 14, 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. in the Health Sciences Center lobby. The holiday to mark King’s birthday is Monday, Jan. 18.

The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Samuel B. McKinney, pastor emeritus of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Seattle and a college classmate of Dr. King.

UW President Richard L. McCormick plans to attend.

There will be special performances by the Meany Middle School Jazz Band, Joe Ann Moore of the UW News and Information office, and Native American dancer Taylor Henry; a poetry reading by students from Montlake Elementary School; and art work from View Ridge and Montlake Elementaries.

Students from each of the health sciences schools and an employee from UW Medical Center will be honored for their volunteer work in the community.

The annual tribute is sponsored by UW Medical Center and Health Sciences Administration and is open to the entire UW community and the public. ¶

At Harborview

Harborview Medical Center will host its annual celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from 2 to
4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15 in the medical center’s cafeteria. “Empowering the Youth of Today for a Better Tomorrow” is the theme of this year’s event, which will feature keynote speakers Dr. Samuel B. McKinney and Louise J. McKinney.

Dr. McKinney recently retired from Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where he was pastor of the 2,800-member congregation for the past 40 years. Louise McKinney, a Seattle area educator, has been a member of the Harborview Medical Center visiting committee for the past five years.

Joining the McKinneys will be Gov. Gary Locke to help kick off Harborview’s “Reach Out and Read” literacy program. Since September, the medical center has included reading as part of its health-care program in the Children and Teen Clinic. At each well-child visit between birth and 5 years of age, physicians and nurse practitioners counsel families on the importance of literacy and chart the progress made. Each child is given a book, and by five years of age, each has his or her own library of reading materials. Volunteers are available in the clinic waiting areas to read to children and to help parents, especially those whose cultures do not recognize the importance of reading to children as a significant educational and bonding activity. The program is sponsored by the Harborview Service League.

Ron Simons, a local actor, will be master of ceremonies. Music will be provided by the African American Academy Choir, the Prophets of Truth, and the T.T. Minor Choir. The program is open to the public. ¶