Much to do for Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday in Michiana

SOUTH BEND — Once again, local groups are offering a large menu of live music, drama, dance, food and discussions to honor the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

The national holiday will be observed Monday.

All events are free to the public unless otherwise noted.

Monday

-There will be an array of vendors and exhibits from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Century Center, 120 S. St. Joseph St.

-A blood drive will be held from 9 a.m. to noon in Century Center. No appointment is necessary, but if you want to set one, call 574-229-1279.

-Admission to the College Football Hall of Fame will be discounted to $5.

-Parents are invited to a panel discussion about getting involved with their kids' education from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Century Center. The panelists will include a Chicago teacher, the coordinator of the Parent Academy in South Bend schools, Notre Dame faculty, parents and people who support parents. Virginia Calvin, retiring chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College, will be moderator.

-A "Caring for the Community" exhibit on the life of Dr. Roland Chamblee, who died this past fall, will open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Studebaker National Museum, 201 S. Chapin St., where admission will be free. The exhibit will be there until Feb. 28.

-There will be free admission to the Center for History, 808 W. Washington St., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., including the exhibit "Media Coverage of Civil Rights."

-Three employees will give inspirational talks and two employees will receive awards in a half-hour program at 10:30 a.m. at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka.

-Lawyers will be available to answer basic legal questions in the "Talk to a Lawyer" program from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Joseph County Public Library, 304 S. Main St.

-A video, "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: A Historical Perspective," will be shown from noon to 1 p.m. in the Memorial Hospital Auditorium, 615 N. Michigan St.

-A traditional march will begin at noon with readings, prayers and awards in the County-City Building lobby, then proceed to Century Center. Local clergy, government officials, and a drill team and drum corps will lead the way.

-Local actors will present a drama from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in Century Center about the choices made by a Roman soldier known as St. Marcellus, followed by a discussion about King's dream.

-Youth can partake in a workshop from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in Century Center called "Dare 2 Dream: Dream Out Loud and Become the Change." It will be full of prizes and information.

-Members of South Bend Civic Theater will do dramatic readings of children's books about racial and ethnic diversity from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in Century Center. Also at that time, there will be art activities and young people dressed as famous civil rights leaders.

-A discussion of how King's life advanced mankind spiritually will be from 2 to 4 p.m. in Christian Science Reading Room, 129 S. Michigan St.

-Families are invited to make crafts and watch the short film "March On: The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World" from 2 to 3 p.m. at LaSalle Branch Library.

-Youths can make crafts from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Tutt Branch Library.

-Youths will perform with dance, drama, drums, drill teams, mime and gospel from 3 to 5 p.m. in Century Center. Youth awards will be presented.

-" The Express," a 2009 film about Ernie Davis who became the first black football player to win the Heisman Trophy, will be shown at 3 p.m. at the College Football Hall of Fame, followed by a discussion of civil rights.

-Saint Mary's College will hold a commemorative march starting at 6 p.m. in the Student Center atrium on campus. It will include prayer, song and discussion about King's message.

-There will be a concert at 7 p.m. at North Side Hall at Indiana University South Bend, featuring the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, the South Bend Symphonic Choir and the South Bend Symphonic Youth Orchestra. The music will honor black American composers. Guest violinist is an award-winning 13-year-old from Tennessee. Tickets are free but must be reserved at 574-232-6343.

Jan. 20 and later

-A series of lectures and discussions about race launches with a keynote address by the Rev. Edward Malloy, president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame, will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Jan. 20 in Room 136 of Notre Dame's DeBartolo Classroom Building. The series will take place at the same time and place for five consecutive Thursdays until Feb. 17, each with a lecture by a different social researcher.

-Evidence, A Dance Company, will perform a fusion of African, hip hop and modern styles that details the experience of Africans who were taken from their homelands. The performance will begin at 7 p.m. Jan. 20 and 21 and at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. Ron K. Brown, artistic director of Evidence, will give talks after each performance. Tickets range from $8 for youths to $30 for adults and $22 for seniors. Call 574-631-2800.

Feb. 26

-The "Lift Every Voice" concert at 7:30 p.m. at IUSB's North Side Hall will feature the South Bend Symphonic Choir and the Ebony Chorale from Florida. They'll do pieces by black composer Adolphus Hailstork, who will be there. Tickets, which cost $3 for adults and free for students and children, must be reserved at 574-520-4203.