The 26th Annual
Founded by the late Corine G. Sims, Executive Director of the United Community Gospel Singers of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois
Co-sponsored by Illinois Wesleyan University
One lucky person will receive:
Sponsored by Beck Memorial Home
Westbrook Auditorium, Presser Hall
IWU School of Music
1210 Park St., Bloomington
Free Admission
For more information, contact Carl Teichman, Illinois Wesleyan University, at (309) 556-3429 or Barbara Sims-Malone, President, United Community Gospel Singers, at (309) 706-6638
Presser Hall is located on the west side of Park Street.
To access free parking across the street behind the Minor Myers, jr. Welcome Center, turn east on University Avenue
Persons with disabilities requiring any auxiliary aids, services or special arrangements should contact the University at (309) 556-3429
Founded by the United Community Gospel Singers of Bloomington and Normal and co-sponsored with Illinois Wesleyan University, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday Gospel Festival annually honors King with hours of gospel music by choirs from Chicago to Springfield, Ill.
The festival was launched in 1991 by Corine Sims of Bloomington, who died in 2007.
King himself visited Illinois Wesleyan twice, in 1961 and 1966. A transcript and audio recording of King's 1966 speech at Illinois Wesleyan are available online.
In addition, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellowship Dinner brought a host of inspiring speakers to Illinois Wesleyan during its history.
| Past Fellowship Dinner Speakers | |
|---|---|
| 2015 | Paul Bushnell, IWU Professor Emeritus |
| 2014 | Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State |
| 2013 | Barry Scott, founder and producing artistic director, American Negro Playwright Theatre |
| 2012 | Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State, and Jesse White Tumbling Team |
| 2011 | Bob Zellner, Civil Rights Scholar and Author |
| 2010 | Thomas N. Todd, Civil Rights Attorney |
| 2009 | Jerome Ringo, Environmental Pioneer and President of the Apollo Alliance |
| 2008 | Rev. Michael Pfleger, Pastor of St. Sabina Catholic Church Chicago, social activist |
| 2007 |
Rev. Joseph Lowery, co-founder Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Methodist Minister ▷Hear Lowery's Speech |
| 2006 | Keith Beauchamp, Documentary Filmmaker: “The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till” |
| 2005 | The Honorable Wade McCree III, 3rd Circuit Court, Wayne County, Michigan |
| 2004 | Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State |
| 2003 | Randell Osbourne, SCLC Foundation Executive Director |
| 2002 | Dorothy Cotton, Cornell University professor and civil rights activist |
| 2001 | Roger Wilkins, professor, journalist, SCLC leader. |
| 2000 | Thomas Todd, Chicago Civil Rights Attorney |
| 1999 | Doug Wilder, Former Governor of Virginia |
| 1998 | Morris Dees, Founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center |
| 1997 | Yolanda King, daughter of MLK |
| 1996 | Judy Richardson, co-producer “Eyes on the Prize” |
| 1995 | Vernon King, cousin of MLK |
| 1994 | Vernon King, cousin of MLK |
| 1993 | Bernice King, daughter of MLK |
| 1992 | Bernice King, daughter of MLK |
| 1991 | Martin Luther King III, son of MLK |