2009 MLK Commemoration - Events

A calendar of events (pdf) NOW AVAILABLE...

Thursday, January 15: 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Fort Sam Houston Celebration

Fort Sam Houston presents Col. Quill Ferguson, United States Army North.

Friday, January 16 - Friday, January 19

MLK Basketball Classic Tournament
The MLK Basketball tournament will take place at the Eastside Boys and Girls Club. For more infromation on signing up for the tournament and times for the event please contact the number below

Location: Eastside Boys and Girls Club, 3503 MLK Drive

Contact: Robert Brooks at (832) 748-2243
 

Saturday, January 17:  7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Martin Luther King, Jr. 13th Annual Memorial Chess Tournament
Young people in grades K-12 are invited to compete in this mind challenging event. The tournament is Five Round Swiss. Open registration until 9 a.m. on event day. Round one begins at 9:30 a.m.
Location: Dorie Miller Elementary, 207 Lincolnshire Dr.
Contact: E.C. Chase at (210) 473-7378 or by email at ecchase@chessforeducation.com.

Saturday, January 17:  9:00 a.m.
Alpha Phi Alpha Annual MLK Breakfast
The annual breakfast in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., will take place at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
Doors open at 8:30 a.m. and tickets are $20.
Location: Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, 200 East Market Street
Contact:  For tickets or for more information, call (210) 394-5222 or (210) 867-8494

Saturday, January 17:  10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Garden Clean Up
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., City Year and community members will embark on a day of philanthropy at Martin Luther King Memorial Botanical Garden. During the day of service, the group will plant flowers along with other landscaping work.
Location: Martin Luther King Memorial Botanical Garden, 3502 Martin Luther King Blvd.
Contact:  For more information, call (210) 247-4426 or email mfarah@cityyear.org.

Saturday, January 17: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Hip Hop Summit Poster Making Event
This event is geared toward the youth and young adults of San Antonio. Participants will be given an opportunity to express their views on world events, the environment, crime, civil rights or any other relevant topic to Dr. King’s vision by showcasing their artistic abilities through a personalized poster that will be displayed during the Hip Hop Summit. All participants will be given a certificate of appreciation.

Location: St. Philip's College, 1801 Martin Luther King Dr.
Contact: Linda Tippins at (210) 818-7135 or by email at ltippins@safb.org

Saturday, January 17: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Hip Hop Youth Summit

The Hip Hop Summit is geared toward the youth of San Antonio. The event explores how hip hop and its culture are being affected today and the effects of it in the future through workshops, panel discussions and entertainment. During the summit, free HIV testing will be provided by Beat AIDS. The event is free and open to the public. Registration begins at 10 a.m.
Location: St. Philip's College, 1801 MLK Drive.
Contact: (210) 723-6147

Saturday, January 17: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Know Why You Are Marching Cilvil Rights & Film Series

The event will feature guest speaker Al Bronstein. Between 1959 and 1972 Bronstein served as a lawyer for various people and organizations including Martin Luther King, Jr., NAACP, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, SCLC, the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and the National Institute for Education in Law and Poverty. The event will also include a welcome by students from the MLK Academy. From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. there will be a welcoming reception featuring musical guest Alonzo McKinney at Tommy Moore's Cafe, 915 S. Hackberry. The event is free and open to the public.  
Location: Martin Luther King Academy, 3501 Martin Luther King Dr.
Contact: (210) 437-2198

Saturday, January 17: 5:00 p.m.

MLK Public Awards Program

MLK Commission presents the MLK Distinguished Achievement Award to a member of the community.  Baha'i Unity of Humanity Award also will be presented.

Location: City Council Chamber, 114 W. Commerce.

Contact: (210) 207-2098

Saturday, January 17: 7:00 p.m.

San Antonio Northwest Civic and Social Club 14th Annual MLK Celebration

The San Antonio Northwest Civic and Social Club will present its 14th Annual MLK Celebration. The guest speaker will be E.F. (Smiley) Williams. There will also be a special MLK presentation by David C. Green. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person and seating is limited. dress attire is semi-formal. After the dinner, there will be a networking social with live music.

Location: Port San Antonio Officer's Club.

Contact: Arthur Beatty at (210) 860-9619 or Felecia Bratchett (210) 977-5819

Sunday, January 18: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Know Why You Are Marching

Community organizer Tommy Calvert, Jr. and former City Councilman Mario Salas lead a discussion and share memories of the San Antonio MLK March.

Location: Holiday Inn Express, 1309 E. Commerce
Cost: For event cost, visit http://aclutx.org/projects/knowwhyyourem.php.

Sunday, January 18: 2:00 p.m.

2008 Martin Luther King, Jr. Wreath-Laying Ceremony

Commemorates the life, struggles and great accomplishments of Dr. King.

Location: MLK Plaza, intersection of N. New Braunfels and E. Houston.

Sunday, January 18: 4:00 p.m.

MLK Interfaith Service

Service for all faiths benefits the MLK Scholarship Fund.

Location: Central Christian Church, 720 N. Main Ave.

Sunday, January 18: 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Know Why You Are Marching film screening

Screening of several prominent films including 2008 award-winning Sundance documentary about Hurricane Katrina.

Location: MLK Academy, 3501 MLK Drive.

Monday, January 19: 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Paul Rusesabagina's Book Signing Breakfast

Paul Rusesabagina, the man who inspired the Academy Award winning Hollywood film, Hotel Rwanda, will hold a book signing breakfast for his New York Times Best Seller, An Ordinary Man.

Location: San Antonio Plaza Club, 100 W. Houston Street.

Monday, January 19: 10:00 a.m. 

MLK March and Commemorative Program

Join the largest U.S. march aimed at remembering and continuing the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

March begins at 10:00 a.m. at the MLK Freedom Bridge.

Wednesday, January 21: 7:00 p.m. 

MLK Commemorative Lecture
Trinity University in partnership with the MLK Commission presents the MLK Lecture Series featuring L. Douglas Wilder.

Location: Trinity University- Laurie Auditorium, 715 Stadium Drive.
 

Thursday, January 22: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

MLK Art Exhibit Reception
A reception honoring local artists and their works at the Carver Cultural Center. Visitors can see the exhibit  at the Carver from January 14 through February 27. Art workshops will also be conducted at local schools from January 15 through January 30.

Location: Carver Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry St.