Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when WPR Music broadcasts Wisconsin’s 45th Annual Tribute and Ceremony from the Capitol Rotunda on Jan. 20 at noon, 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 Tribute is “Justice Lives Here.” Marcelia N. Nicholson, the Chair of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, will give the keynote address. Music and dance will come 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,” said Dr. Øverby. “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.”
The 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, and rebroadcast at 8 p.m. on WPR News. From 9-10 p.m that evening PBS Wisconsin will air an edited highlights program on its Wisconsin Channel, and an archive will be available for later viewing at pbswisconsin.org.
