January 8, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - To honor the life and work of civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) will host several events on campus.

The Alys Stephens Center presents "Reflect & Rejoice: A Musical Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.," at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, at the Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. S., Birmingham. Tickets are $15; students $7. Call 205-975-2787 or visit www.AlysStephens.org for more information.

The ASC has partnered with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) and Alabama Symphony Orchestra for this program of music to remember the past and imagine the future.

On the program are traditional songs, including "Ride on King Jesus," "Lift Every Voice," as well as "You Say I Believe" and "Kum Ba Yah." The program is conducted by Leslie Dunner with Bronwen Forbay, soprano, and Elias Hendricks, tenor, with orator Dennis Pope and the Alabama A&M Concert Choir. This event also will begin the BCRI's inauguration activities.

A candlelight memorial ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, at the UAB Mini Park, corner of University Boulevard and 14th Street South. The event is free and open to the public. The event will include a candle lighting ceremony and a moment of silence as well as a viewing of a 17-minute film of King's historic "I Have a Dream" speech. The memorial event is sponsored by the UAB Office of Student Involvement and the UAB Black Student Awareness Committee.