Wisconsin Public Radio: Wisconsin’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration to feature nationally recognized co-founder of Flood the Hood with Dreams organization

Wisconsin’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration to Feature Nationally Recognized Co-Founder of Flood the Hood with Dreams Organization 

Madison, Wis. – Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) is proud to present the 38th Annual Tribute and Ceremony honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Capitol Rotunda on January 15 at noon. This year’s theme is Do You Remember, featuring clinician, lecturer, actor, and Milwaukee-native Muhibb Dyer.

The program also includes the presentation of the State of Wisconsin Proclamation honoring Dr. King, MLK Honor Guard Tribute, and the announcement of the 2018 MLK Heritage Awards. Chicago’s Travelers Gospel Quartet and the Milwaukee Children’s Choir will perform in tribute to Dr. King. Produced, directed and hosted by WPR’s Dr. Jonathan Overby, Wisconsin’s annual ceremony is the oldest official state celebration in the country. “This historical event in Wisconsin is designed to draw us to gather in the spirit of good community by celebrating both our differences and our commonalities,” said Overby.

Dyer, a motivational speaker specializing in dropout recovery and trauma mitigation, is co-founder of the Flood the Hood with Dreams organization and its I Will Not Die Young campaign. The organization focuses on empowering youth and ending cycles of violence through conflict-resolution training and youth rallies. Dyer grew up in Milwaukee’s 53206 area, known for being the most incarcerated zip code in America, and many of the people he grew up with became victims of homicide or were imprisoned. The murder of his godson lead him to the creation of Flood the Hood with Dreams. He has since reached thousands of young people through keynotes addresses, conflict-resolution workshops, theatrical presentations and seminars.

The Tribute and Ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda is free and open to the public with limited seating and standing. People throughout the state can listen live on Wisconsin Public Radio and at wpr.org. Wisconsin Public Television’s Wisconsin Channel and wpt.org will also air the program live. A one-hour highlights broadcast airs on Wisconsin Public Television at 9:30 p.m. on the same day. Find details at wpr.org/mlk