March 18, 2014 by Third Coast Diagest — The City of Milwaukee’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration spotlights the best and brightest students within the Milwaukee Public Schools, choice, charter and parochial schools. And after participating in the three-hour event, I can confidently say the future of our community is in good hands.
“People Must Work Together” was the theme of the party, held Sunday afternoon at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, and the multicultural blending of faces, styles and ages brought the party to life. The party started with a pep rally, led by the drumline from Fritsche Middle School. That was followed by an a capella rendition of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” the Black National Anthem. Many in the audience joined Ms. Breeze of Running Rebels Community Organization as her voice soared with words that promise hope for the future.
Other performance groups included the Chinese Youth Symphony (click to hear the Chinese Symphony‘s performance), the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Calypso and Progressions, African dance troupe Discovery our Destiny and the Milwaukee Children’s Choir.
Latino Arts Mariachi Juvenil, consisting of 8- to 17 -year-olds, performed traditional Hispanic string pieces. They were lead in song by a senior group member named Juan. His smooth voice and rugged good looks had the audience whistling and howling their approval. (Listen to Mariachi Juvenil‘s performance here).
Spread throughout the celebration were speeches given by the winning students in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speech contest. Listen to the winners insights and hopes for the future below.
