Bishop Vashti McKenzie, who was elected and consecrated as the 117th bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 2000 becoming the first female elected to episcopal office in the more than two-century-old AME Church, will be the keynote speaker at the 40th annual Madison & Dane County observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday, Jan. 20, 6 p.m. at the Overture Center for the Arts.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Coalition of Madison & Dane County, established in the fall of 1985 as a community group to plan the official City of Madison and Dane County observances of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, have also announced numerous MLK Holiday events that will take place in the Madison area in mid-January.
The King Coalition brings people from all walks of life together in the “spirit of true brotherhood and sisterhood to commemorate the life and accomplishments of this renowned leader of the civil rights movement.”
Bishop McKenzie is currently president/general secretary of the National Council of Churches, providing executive leadership to 37 denominations, 100,000 churches and 30 million people. She was appointed by President Obama to the White House Commission of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and named one of the 50 Most Powerful Religious Leaders in the World by Huffington Post.
“Characterized as ‘an electrifying preacher,’ Bishop McKenzie preaches and teaches globally on women, leadership, and other social justice issues,” the King Coalition said in a press release announcing McKenzie as keynote speaker.
The MLK City-County observance will also feature the presentation of the MLK Humanitarian Award by City of Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Dane County Executive Melissa Agard. The program will also feature performances by the MLK Community Choir, led by Leotha and Tamera Stanley, and a call to action.
There is no cost to attend. Tickets are not required.
