Wisconsin’s Celebrates Dr. King’s Birthday

With the theme “Together As One”, Wisconsin’s 41st official Tribute and Ceremony honoring the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is set for Noon, Monday, January 18, 2021. It will take place not as a State Capitol event open event to the public, but rather as a pre-recorded event.

Hosted by Dr. Jonathan Overby, the 2021 MLK event is presented in collaboration with Wisconsin Public Radio and PBS Wisconsin. PBS Wisconsin will air a one-hour pre-produced program featuring segments from past years titled “The Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration 2021” It will air on the flagship channel at 10 p.m. It will air on the Wisconsin Channel at 7 p.m. and again at 11 p.m., Wisconsin Public Radio will simulcast its celebration of Dr. King’s Birthday Commemoration at Noon on the Ideas Network and on the NPR News and Music Network.

The program will feature excerpts from author Michelle Alexander’s original speech at the 32nd Annual Tribute in 2011 with rebroadcast performances by Chicago’s GMAC Mass Choir and Milwaukee’s Latino Strings. The 2021 celebration will include pre-recorded segments that introduce the recipients of the 2021 MLK Heritage Award. The official MLK 2021 State Proclamation will be presented by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers.

In addition to the television and radio broadcasts, Wisconsin’s 2021 King Tribute also features the launch of THE FORWARD TOGETHER FORUM (TFTF) – A Collaborative and Community-Based Podcast Series. TFTF is scheduled to premiere from Noon to 1:00 pm, Monday, February 15, 2021. TFTF will feature Wisconsin-based community leaders, scholars, authors, historians, and artists who will share their insights on how “we all can” help make Dr. King’s dream a reality. Followed by a Q&A session for up to 1000 participants, free of charge.

Each episode will be dedicated to open discussions in which participants can engage with the guest speakers as a means to learn, inform, inspire, and motivate goodwill in route to expanding their knowledge, understanding of, and empathy for Wisconsin’s diverse communities. Episodes also feature public school children from around the state, sharing what Dr. King means to them. More information: overby@wpr.org, 608 279-7000.

Sponsors include Alliant Energy, American Family Insurance, CUNA Mutual Group, Dane Arts, Madison Community Foundation, National Guardian Life Insurance, PBS Wisconsin, Summit Credit Union, and UW Health/Quartz, Wisconsin Public Radio, The Capital City Hues, Shepherd Express, with thanks to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and WORT Radio-Madison.
For more information contact:
Dr. Jonathan Overby
overby@wpr.org
608 279-7000