Published Friday, January 12, 2001, in the Miami Herald

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY EVENTS
Several events are planned countywide to commemorate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Among them:

TODAY

  •  23rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration: The Miami-Dade County Black Affairs Advisory Board hosts music, speeches, food and vendors, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., west side of the Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW First St. Call 305-375-2859.

  •  The MLK Spirit Awards Banquet: The banquet honors state Sen. Kendrick Meek and attorney Thomasina Williams. The Rev. Jimmie L. Brown, pastor of Ebenezer United Methodist Church, is keynote speaker. Reception at 6:30 p.m. and banquet at 7:30 p.m., Sheraton on Brickell Bay, 495 Brickell Ave.

    SATURDAY

  •  Opa-locka's 13th Annual Martin Luther King Walk: Walkers, marching bands and floats will proceed along Ali-Baba Avenue, then turn onto Opa-locka Boulevard to end at City Hall. Walk begins at 10 a.m. at the Cultural Arts Center, 2105 Ali-Baba Ave.

  •  The North Dade Regional Library: Blood drive from noon to 5 p.m. to help sickle cell anemia sufferers, 2455 NW 183rd St.

  •  Homestead and Florida City Parade: The MLK parade begins at noon at Third Avenue and Lucy Street in Homestead, winds through Florida City and ends at Loren Roberts Park, 627 NW Sixth Ave., Florida City. There will be music, food and a motivational speech by Arthur Thomas, a former president of Central State University in Ohio who worked with King.

    MONDAY (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

  •  Liberty City Parade: Begins at 10 a.m. at Northwest 54th Street and 10th Avenue and ends at the Martin Luther King Jr. Park at 32nd Avenue.

  •  The 5000 Role Models of Excellence: Eighth annual Unity Scholarship Breakfast, 8:30 a.m. at the Fontainebleau Hilton Resort, 4441 Collins Ave. in Miami Beach. The guest speaker is hotel developer R. Donahue Peebles.

  •  The 15th annual South Dade MLK Parade and Gospel Extravaganza: 9 a.m., corner of Homestead Avenue and Southwest 184th Street. The parade then heads west to Southwest 104th Avenue, then north on 104th Avenue. Organizers expect Florida A&M University's Marching 100, high school marching bands, the Nassau Bahamas Junkanoo, floats and funny cars.

    There is a free gospel concert at noon, West Perrine Park, 17121 SW 104th Ave.

    Copyright 2001 Miami Herald