Santa Monica To Celebrate Martin Luther King on January 20

Actor Gerald C. Rivers will be the keynote speaker, accompanied by singer Charles Holt, at the birthday celebration for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Mon. Jan. 20, at the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) Auditorium, 525 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica.

The free event is scheduled for 9 a.m. and is sponsored by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Westside Coalition, a nonprofit coalition whose missions are consistent with King’s legacy. It is co-sponsored by Santa Monica College, the city of Santa Monica, the SMC Associates, RAND Corp., CityTV-Santa Monica, and SGI-USA.

This year’s theme for the event “Unity in the Community.” The multi-ethnic, interfaith program will include inspirational readings, speakers, music, and the MLK Education Awards.

A Community Involvement Fair will take place immediately following the event, at the SGI Youth Center, 606 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica.

Rivers and Holt have worked together in “Martin & Music,” a stage production, which weaves Dr. King’s words with music and narrative about his life and ideals.

Rivers grew up in Compton, studied theater at Los Angeles City College, and then went to Morehouse College. He is renowned for his portrayals of King and a noted scholar on the civil rights leader’s words and work. A classically trained Shakespearean actor and a company member at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, Rivers is also a voiceover artist for video games and for TV commercials and films. The Center for the Advancement of Non Violence presented Rivers with its 2012 Season for Non Violence Local Hero Award.

Holt is a Broadway performer and recording artist who has starred in  “Smokey Joe’s Café,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and “Lion King.” He has been a guest star on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and “All My Children,” as well as the award-winning independent film “Anne B. Real” and the comedy “Ed’s Trip.” He received national acclaim for his 20-character portrayal in his one-man stage play “Black Boy,” based on Richard Wright’s bestselling autobiography, as well as his portrayal of W.E.B. Du Bois in the one-man production “The Smoke King.”

For more information,please call (310) 941-9172.