RIVERSIDE, CA – The Riverside African American Historical Society, in partnership with the Martin Luther King Visionaries Foundation, is pleased to announce the 23rd Annual 5k Walk-A-Thon celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year’s theme is Dr. King’s Legacy Matters. The annual walk provides an opportunity for residents of the greater Riverside community to come together to celebrate the life of Dr. King, winner of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize and social activist who led the Civil Rights Movement in the United States from the mid-1950s until his death by assignation in 1968. The walk-a-thon will be held Monday, Jan. 18, the federal holiday which commemorates Dr. King’s birthday.
The walk will begin at 10:00 a.m. at Bordwell Park’s Stratton Center located at 2008 Martin Luther King Boulevard in Riverside and conclude at White Park located at Market and 9th Streets in downtown Riverside. A registration fee of $15 is required for all participants, including adults and children. All registered participants will receive a commemorative t-shirt. Free shuttle service back to Stratton Center will be available every half hour beginning at 11:30 a.m. Proceeds from the walk-a-thon will benefit the Riverside African American Historical Society and the Martin Luther King Visionaries Foundation.
Pre-walk festivities will include a special program and presentation of awards by honorary chairs Michael Moore, Riverside City Fire Chief; John Russo, Esq., Riverside City Manager; Tamica Smith-Jones, UCR Athletic Director; and Maya El Jawhari, Youth Council President. Festivities following the walk will include food vendors and exhibitors as well as a Rock-A-Thon presented by the Riverside Youth Council, featuring local youth bands and performers.
For registration forms or additional information, contact Sonia Alford-Baldwin at (951) 347-5175.
About the Riverside African-American Historical Society
The Riverside African-American Historical Society (RAAHS) is dedicated to enhancing the awareness of the cultural and historical background of people of African descent and exploring their contributions to the city of Riverside and the Inland Empire. Toward that end, RAAHS endeavors to identify, research, and preserve African-American legacies, lore, and historical sites. For more information, call (951) 683-2505.
About the Martin Luther King Visionaries Foundation
The Dr. Martin Luther King Visionaries Foundation was created to raise funds to erect a statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “as a reminder to remember”. The MLK Visionaries wanted this Monument to be used to illustrate through this art work the nonviolent ideals the Dr. King both lived and represented; the bravery to stand up for truth against injustice, and to fight nonviolently for equality. It has and continue to be the hope this this monument can be the educational value of the history of the Civil Rights Movement and a vehicle to inspire people to the great ideals and values Dr. King lived.
