Several events to honor Dr. Martin Luther King's life and legacy will be held in the coming days.
Friday
The 18th annual African American Voice: An Evening of Performance will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Texarkana Regional Arts Center in downtown Texarkana.
The performance, dedicated to celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his teachings, will feature a night of young performers who exemplify King's encouraging and inspiring words.
The performance will be presented by the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council's African-American Committee. The event will serve as a kickoff for celebrating King's birthday weekend. The event is free and open to the public.
Saturday
MLK Day Community Prayer Breakfast is slated for 7 to 9 a.m. at Lonoke Baptist Church, 1841 Lonoke Ave. in Texarkana, Ark. The program honors the non-violence principles of Dr. King. It is $8 for adults and $5 for youth.
Sunday
The 15th annual Acts of Kindness Presentation will be held at 7 p.m. at the Twin City Event and Conference Center, 2101 Texas Blvd. Local individuals, companies and organizations will be honored for their leadership, compassion, innovation and unity.
Monday
- Bridging the Gaps of Arkansas will hold its fourth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade at 11:30 a.m., starting near East Broad Street and East Front Street in downtown Texarkana.
This year's parade theme will be "The Power of One-One Man, One Dream, One Hope."
Parade entry will be $15 and the parade lineup and check-in will be at 9:30 a.m.
For more information, call parade organizer Brandon Houff at 903-701-2341.
- The Greater Texarkana Branch of the NAACP will hold its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Holiday Program starting at 1 p.m. at Dunbar Elementary School, 2315 W. 10th St. in Texarkana, Texas.
The program will feature Armani Valentino as guest speaker, and musical selections will be performed by the Zion District Youth Choir. Refreshments will also be served.
For more information, call Robert Jones at 903-278-7248.
- Southern Arkansas University's 24th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Memorial March and Ceremony will begin at 5 p.m.
The march will begin at the former Miller's Cafeteria on Vine Street at 5 p.m. and proceed down University Street to the SAU Reynolds Center. The memorial program will begin around 5:30 p.m. in Foundation Hall.
The Rev. Carlos Stuart, youth minister at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Decatur, Ill., will be the keynote speaker for the ceremony.
Stuart is an experienced teacher and theologian. A satellite instructor for the Chicago Theological Institute, he teaches, among other courses, systematic theology. He has been an ordained minister for 15 years and is the former pastor of the Faith Covenant Tabernacle Baptist Church in Danville, Ill.
For more information, contact the Office of Multicultural Services at 870-235-4046.