January 10, 2012, Casper, WY – January 16, 2012 will mark the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. This milestone is a perfect opportunity for Americans to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service. The MLK Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?’†Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on the King Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities. In partnership with the Casper Branch of the National Association for Colored People (NAACP), ServeWyoming, and the First United Methodist Church, Casper’s celebration kicks off at 11:00 a.m. with the annual march starting at City Park, 7th and Center streets. The NOWCAP Color Guard will lead the marchers to the First United Methodist Church (FUMC), 302 East 2nd St. Those not wishing to walk may ride in a C.A.T.C. bus in the march or go directly to the church. According to Nurieh Glasgow of ServeWyoming, Casper’s Martin Luther King, Jr./Wyoming Equality Day Celebration is an important day to remember Dr. King’s work and legacy, celebrating his birthday as a national holiday and acting on his teachings and principles of nonviolence and human rights. “Our mission at ServeWyoming is improving lives and strengthening Wyoming communities through volunteerism. We are engaged in this event because it also serves as a reminder that the holiday is a day on for community service initiatives and programs promoting interracial cooperation, not just a day off from work or school,†says Glasgow. In that spirit, ServeWyoming is also sponsoring a food drive. Please bring healthy, non-perishable food items for donation to the Holy Cross Food Bank and/or toiletries to help support the Wyoming Kinship Advocacy, who helps grandparents who have adopted their grandchildren. More information about Wyoming Kinship Advocacy can be found at www.wyka.org. Mr. Ivan Posey, member of the Eastern Shoshone Business Council and the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Business Council of the Wind River, will give the keynote speech at First United Methodist Church at 11:30 am. James Simmons, president of the Casper Branch of the NAACP, will emcee the energizing event, which will include the Walking with Christ Ministries Choir and youth from The Wind River UNITY Youth Council dancers. The dancers will perform from various dance categories, women's fancy, traditional & Jingle dress and men's fancy, traditional & grass dance- the same dances that would be found at a tribal powwow gathering. The drum group Scout River, made up of male singers who are also members of the Wind River UNITY Youth Council, will sing songs that accompany all dance categories and performances. A soup lunch and hands on workshop for all ages will be provided by the Wind River UNITY Youth Council, in the Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church at 1pm. Lunch is being provided in partnership with Safeway store, Albertson’s, and Target. The celebration has been made possible with support from the Wyoming Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, Wyoming Humanities Council, Natrona County Medical Reserve Corps, the City of Casper, and many volunteers. For more information, contact Janet de Vries, Casper NAACP, 268-2446 or Nurieh Glasgow, ServeWyoming, 234-3428


http://www.servewyoming.org

Contact Information

Nurieh Glasgow
307-234-3428
nurieh@servewyoming.org