Newark, NJ - January 14, 2009 - Mayor Cory A. Booker will join with Academy Award-winning Actor Forest Whitaker, local dignitaries, community leaders and residents on Saturday, January 17 at 3 p.m. for the City of Newark’s 21st Annual “Sing in Praise of King” observance at Grace Episcopal Church, located at 950 Broad Street in Newark.

Mr. Whitaker, who has received an array of accolades and acclaim for his work both in front of and behind the camera, will serve as the keynote speaker for the event.

 

Scheduled to perform at the annual observance to honor Civil Rights leader and Nobel Laureate Dr. Martin Luther King are the Grace Episcopal Church Choir, the Garden State Choral Chapter, nationally-acclaimed jazz pianist Eric Lewis, and Newark Arts High School Student Lawrence Dandridge, the grandson of Baseball Hall of Famer and Newark Eagles Negro Baseball League star Ray Dandridge.

This year’s event will occur just days before the historic inauguration of the nation’s first African-American President, and will take place at the very church where “America the Beautiful” was written. With that as a background, the annual observance will manifest how Newark is working to truly achieve this year’s theme of “A Dream Becomes a Reality.”

WHO:  Mayor Cory A. Booker, Academy Award-winning Actor Forest Whitaker, nationally-acclaimed jazz pianist Eric Lewis, local dignitaries, community leaders and Newark residents.

WHAT:  Host the City of Newark’s 21st Annual “Sing in Praise of King” Observance in honor of Civil Rights leader and Nobel Laureate, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

WHEN:  Saturday, January 17, 3 p.m.
                
WHERE:  Grace Episcopal Church
950 Broad Street
Newark

Seating is limited! Contact the Newark Press Office to RSVP.

Newark Press Information Office - (973) 733-8004.
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it