FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lynn Norwood

(313) 927-1493

lnorwood@marygrove.edu

Marygrove College Welcomes Reverend Larry Walker and

Khary Kimani Turner as Speakers for MLK Celebration

January 3, 2005— Detroit, Michigan—On Wednesday, January 19, Marygrove College will hold its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. The year’s celebration will feature Reverend Larry J. Walker, pastor of Oakland Avenue Missionary Baptist Church as keynote speaker, and a presentation by Detroiter Khary Kimani Turner, an accomplished writer, poet and lecturer.

Reverend Walker will speak at 12:00 p.m. in Sacred Heart Chapel. He will address the theme for the celebration, “From Victim to Victor: Transforming Mind, Heart and Spirit.” Khary Kimani Turner will present, “Beyond the March” at 7:00 p.m. in Denk Chapman Hall. The programs are free and open to the public.

Reverend Walker has been the pastor for Oakland Avenue Missionary Baptist Church for more than 18 years. He holds degrees from Olivet College, William Tyndale College and Ashland Theological Seminary. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from S.J. Williams School of Religion and is currently working toward a master’s in theology from Luther Rice Seminary.

Turner is a writer, poet and lecturer. He frequently conducts a workshop entitled, “To The Beat, Y’all!” to educate the community on how hip-hop can be used to bridge generational and cultural gaps, and to encourage critical thinking in social contexts. He is a former writer for the Metro Times and former contributor of Vibe, BET.com and Spin. He is a graduate of Xavier University. A discussion will follow the presentation.

For more information, call (313) 927-1404.

Marygrove College is located at 8425 W. McNichols Rd. in Detroit. More than 1,200 students attend classes in its undergraduate and graduate programs in education, social work, the liberal and fine arts. ###