Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s daughter to speak at Wisconsin Lutheran College

Yolanda King

Yolanda King, first-born daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, will present "Open My Eyes, Open My Soul: Discovering the Power of Diversity" Tuesday, February 27 at 4 p.m. in the Recreation Complex at Wisconsin Lutheran College. King will address the need for communities to understand and respect diversity. Her new book of the same name serves as the platform for this lecture-performance.

A press conference with Ms. King will be held from 3:20-3:40 p.m. in the Siebert Center in the Recreation Complex. In addition, you will have the opportunity to record the first five minutes of Ms. King’s presentation.

Yolanda King has performed or lectured in 49 of the 50 states as well as in Europe, Africa and Asia. King’s stage, television and film credits reflect her commitment to social change and include portrayals of Rosa Parks in the NBC-TV movie "King," Dr. Betty Shabazz in the film "Death of a Prophet" with Morgan Freeman, and Medgar Ever’s daughter, Reena, in "Ghosts of Mississippi." Focusing on the highlights of the Civil Rights Movement, her most recent theatrical production is "Achieving the Dream," in which she portrays several characters in the movement for civil and human rights.

King is a member of the board of directors of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc. (the official national memorial to Dr. King) and was founding director of the King Center’s Cultural Affairs Program.

The Yolanda King event is sponsored in part by AM 1290 WMCS, Time Warner Cable and the Wisconsin Lutheran College Student Senate. The Recreation Complex is located at 8725 West Wisconsin Avenue. Tickets are $15 for general admission. To purchase tickets, call the WLC box office, 8815 West Wisconsin Avenue at (414) 443-8802 or visit wlc.edu/arts. Tickets are also being sold at the following locations: Coffee Makes You Black Coffee Shop, 2803 North Teutonia Avenue; Eastpoint Pick ’n Save, 605 Eat Lyon Street; Midtown Pick ’n Save, 5700 West Capitol Drive; and The Reader’s Choice Bookstore, 1950 North Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.

Wisconsin Lutheran is a liberal arts college located on the west side of Milwaukee.

After-school programs find a home in schools

(NAPSA)--In many communities, the end of the school day doesn’t mean that students are no longer learning or that schools are standing idle.

A new survey shows that nearly two-thirds (just over 62 percent) of students who participate in after-school programs take part in activities held at their schools, in a location such as a gym or cafeteria--and not in after-school centers.

By comparison, fewer than one in 10-just under 9 percent participate in more traditional after-school settings, such as at a YMCA, Boys and Girls Club or similar facility. About one in five (18 percent) participate in a church or place of worship.

"These results illustrate the growing role of schools in the communities they serve, during normal school hours and beyond," said Dr. Darrell Luzzo, senior vice president of Education for JA Worldwide.

"I think it is also indicative of the rising demand for after-school programs. There simply aren't enough after-school facilities out there, so schools are filling that void.

"This presents both a challenge and an opportunity to help students academically by giving them unique and interesting content during those after-school hours."

The survey was conducted by JA Worldwide (Junior Achievement) in conjunction with the introduction of the organization’s after-school middle-school program, JA It’s My Business!

This new program encompasses entrepreneurship curricula for students in grades six, seven and eight.

The program emphasizes entrepreneurship while providing a strong focus on social studies, reading and writing skills.

After-school programs offered through JA are provided at minimal or no cost to schools, and can use on-site personnel or engage a volunteer from outside the school--who is often a business--person or working professional--to come into the after-school setting to conduct the program.

To find out more about Junior Achievement, visit www.ja.org.