Free event on Monday, January 20, to honor student contest winners and social justice advocates Eddie and Mary Sue Short
MILWAUKEE (Jan. 10, 2025) – The Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC), along with We Energies, Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association, announced today the student winners of the 41st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. art, speech, and writing contests. The winners will be celebrated at the 41st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration, presented by Bader Philanthropies, on Monday, January 20, at the Marcus Performing Arts Center.
This free event, coordinated by the MLK Steering Committee, will begin at 4:00 p.m. in Uihlein Hall and highlight this year’s youth contest winners as well as feature remarks from elected officials and performances from Milwaukee High School of the Arts Vocal Jazz Ensemble, The Riverside Brass Ensemble from Riverside University High School, and Paj Hnub Hli dance group from the Hmong American Friendship Association. Immediately following the program, all are invited to the Paulette Y. Copeland Reception celebrating the winners in the Anello Atrium.
The event will also include a special presentation of the Rev. Joseph Ellwanger Social Justice Award to Eddie and Mary Sue Short, whose story began over 60 years ago in Shaw, Mississippi, where they risked their lives to fight for voting rights, challenge segregation, and improve conditions in the Mississippi Delta. The Shorts’ partnership, forged through activism and strengthened by 58 years of marriage, stands as a testament to their unwavering commitment to justice and equality.
“We are honored to host the 41st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration, a long-standing event that uplifts the voices of Milwaukee’s youth,” stated MPAC President & CEO Kevin Giglinto. “This event exemplifies the Marcus Performing Arts Center’s commitment to fostering racial equity, diversity, and inclusion in our community while encouraging the next generation to carry forward Dr. King’s enduring message.”
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