Marcus Center for the Performing Arts

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration is organized by a steering committee of long-time community members, school representatives, corporate leaders, and Marcus Center staff.

This community event is free and open to the public. There are no tickets or reservations required to attend this event.

The theme for this year is: “Keep Moving Forward”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an activist committed to peace, justice, and equality. As a visionary leader of the civil rights movement, King fought for racial and economic justice for the oppressed. His driving forces were nonviolence, love, the importance of family and self-respect.

This year’s theme is “Keep Moving Forward,” from Dr. King’s address “Keep Moving the Mountain” given at Spelman College on April 10, 1960.

“Keep moving, for it may well be that the greatest song has not yet been sung, the greatest book has not yet been written, the highest mountain has not been climbed. This is your challenge!

Reach out and grab it and make it a part of your life... we must keep moving. If you can’t fly, then run; if you can’t run, then walk; if you can’t walk, then crawl; but by all means keep moving... whatever you do you have to Keep Moving Forward.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Speech, Writing, and Art Contest Rules and Deadline Information below.

For more information about the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, or for funding opportunities, please contact Anthony D. Smith – Director of Community Engagement and Inclusion at 414.273.7121 or email A Smith.

The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts is proud to recognize teachers who have continuously championed and encouraged their students to participate in the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Contests throughout the years.

Eligibility for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Art Contest:
Eligibility/ Categories The art contest is open to students in grades K-12 who live in the city of Milwaukee, Wauwatosa or West Bend or are enrolled in a school, either public or private, within the city of Milwaukee, Wauwatosa or West Bend.

There are four grade level categories:

• Grades K-2: individual entries
• Grades 3-5: individual entries
• Grades 6-8: individual entries
• Grades 9-12: individual entries

Judging The entries will be judged on a point system, with the following criteria considered:

• Entries must address the contest theme.
• Entries should relate the student’s own personal ideas, work and experiences to the topic and show an understanding of Dr. King’s ideals.
• Entries must not be a photocopy or tracing of an existing photo of Dr. King.
• Entries will be judged on the basis of clearly expressed, creative ideas and ability level.

In judging entries, emphasis will be placed on clarity, creativity, and originality. Teachers are encouraged to help students understand the historical context of Dr. King’s words and actions, see the relevance of these words and actions in their artwork, and become familiar with Dr. King’s life and values. We recommend utilizing the resources of MPS school libraries and the Milwaukee Public Libraries.

Prizes:
First, second, and third place art contest winners will receive an engraved plaque and a prize valued up to $100.

Questions/ Concerns If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Amy Wayd, Contest Coordinator, at waydal@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.

Recognition First-second-and third-place winners from each age group will be recognized during Milwaukee’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration on Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 1pm, at the Marcus Performing Arts Center’s virtual event.
 
Entry Delivery Information Instructors are asked to conduct a preliminary screening of student artwork and submit only the three best art pieces from each classroom for final judging.
 

We Energies is proud to continue our decades-long sponsorship of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speech contest. Join us again this year to celebrate extraordinary student achievement in our community.

GOAL
Strengthen students’ reading, writing and public speaking skills while encouraging them to learn about and support the dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

GUIDELINES

• Open to K-12 students.
• Speeches must be written and delivered by students.
• Length: Four minutes maximum
• Grade categories: K-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12.
• Submit application online by Friday, Nov. 20, 2020 at 5 p.m.
• Applications require principal approval.
• Schools may send only one student per grade category to Dec. 8 preliminaries.
• Schools may conduct competitions to select a representative for each grade category.

KEY DATES

• Online application deadline: Friday, Nov. 20, 2020 at 5 p.m.
• Virtual preliminaries: Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020 Sponsored by Milwaukee Public Schools
• Virtual finals: Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020 Sponsored by We Energies
• Milwaukee King Celebration: Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021 at 1pm at the  Marcus Center for the Performing Arts - 929 N. Water St., Milwaukee

First-place winners from each grade category at the finals deliver their speeches at the celebration.

View SPEECH CONTEST RULES

 Application and contest rules can be found at:
www.we-energies.com/educators

"Keep Moving Forward"

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an activist committed to peace, justice, and equality. As a visionary leader of the civil rights movement, King fought for racial and economic justice for the oppressed. His driving forces were nonviolence, love, the importance of family and self-respect.

This year’s theme is “Keep Moving Forward,” from Dr. King’s address, “Keep Moving the Mountain” given at Spelman College on April 10, 1960.

“Keep moving, for it may well be that the greatest song has not yet been sung, the greatest book has not yet been written, the highest mountain has not been climbed. This is your challenge! Reach out and grab it and make it a part of your life...we must keep moving. If you can’t fly, then run; if you can’t run, then walk; if you can’t walk, then crawl; but by all means keep moving... whatever you do you have to Keep Moving Forward.”

Students can reflect on these words and how they relate to themselves or others in their families, schools, neighborhoods or world.

Eligibility/Categories
The writing contest is open to students in grades K-12 who live in the city of Milwaukee, Wauwatosa or West Bend or are enrolled in a school, either public or private, within the city of Milwaukee, Wauwatosa or West Bend.

There are seven grade level categories:

• K-1: group project only (no individual essays), reflecting children’s work and ideas
• Grades 2-3: individual entries, maximum length 250 words
• Grades 4-5: individual entries, maximum length 350 words
• Grade 6: individual entries, maximum length 400 words
• Grades 7-8: individual entries, maximum length 450 words
• Grades 9-10: individual entries, maximum length 500 words
• Grades 11-12: individual entries, maximum length 550 words

Entries must stay within word limitations for their grade level, otherwise the essay will be disqualified.

Judging
The entries will be judged on a point system, with the following criteria considered:

• Entries must address the theme.
• Entries should relate the student’s own personal ideas, work and experiences to the topic and show an understanding of Dr. King’s ideals.
• Entries must not be a biographical sketch of Dr. King.
• Entries will be judged on the basis of clearly expressed, creative ideas and ability level. In judging entries, emphasis will be placed on clarity, creativity, and originality. Correct usage of basic grammar and writing skills will also be considered.

Teachers are encouraged to help students understand the historical context of Dr. King’s words and actions, see the relevance of these words and actions in their world today, and become familiar with Dr. King’s life and values. We recommend utilizing the resources of MPS school libraries and the Milwaukee Public Libraries.

Prizes/Recognition
First, second, and third place writing contest winners will receive an engraved plaque and a prize valued up to $100.

Entry Delivery Information
All entries must be submitted to THIS LINK by 5pm on Monday, November 16, 2020. Entries submitted after 5pm will not be considered for prizes.

Download WRITING CONTEST RULES as a PDF

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Contest is generously sponsored by MTEA

Questions/Concerns
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Donelle Johnson, Contest Coordinator, at 414-445-5635, donellejohnson@aol.com, or the MTEA at 414-259-1990.

Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association
5130 West Vliet Street, Milwaukee, WI 53208
Phone: 414-259-1990 Fax: 414-259-7801

www.mtea.org
Milwaukee Teachers’
Education Association

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES OVERVIEW
37th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration
January 17th, 2021

LEARN MORE

Find resources for your Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration, MLK Videos, & Art Contest rules. Visit HERE.