WNYC & The Apollo Theater Announce
“Where Do We Go From Here?
MLK and the Future of Inclusion”
WNYC’s 11th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
Presented as Part of Apollo’s Uptown Hall Series
Co-Hosted by WNYC Hosts BRIAN LEHRER and JAMI FLOYD
Guests Include New York Daily News Senior Justice Writer SHAUN KING,
Black Lives Matter Co-Founder OPAL TOMETI
President of Brooklyn NAACP L. JOY WILLIAMS,
and Senior Minister Emeritus of the Riverside Church REV. JAMES FORBES
Plus, Performances by Hip-Hop Recording Artist TALIB KWELI
and Spoken Word Poet STACEYANN CHIN
Sunday, January 15, 2017
3PM-5PM
Free and Open to the Public
Event presented in collaboration with March on Washington Film Festival
(New York, NY – December 15, 2016) – On Sunday, January 15 at 3pm, for the 11th
Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration, WNYC and the Apollo Theater will
partner for a fourth year to present “Where Do We Go From Here? MLK and the Future
of Inclusion,” as part of the Apollo’s Uptown Hall series.
WNYC’s Peabody Award-winning host Brian Lehrer and Jami Floyd, local host of WNYC’s
All Things Considered, will moderate an open and honest discussion on the future of social
justice movements in the wake of one of the most divisive general elections in recent
history and the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
In 1967– a year that found Dr. King isolated from and abandoned by the individuals and
organizations that had once locked arms with him in the struggle for civil rights – he
published his final manuscript “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?” The
book detailed his plans for America’s future, particularly related to wage inequality,
housing, poverty and education. Through one-on-one interviews, media presentations and
a series of panels with leading voices in journalism, politics, activism, and social justice
spheres – including New York Daily News Senior Justice Writer Shaun King, Black Lives
Matter co-founder Opal Tometi, President of Brooklyn NAACP L. Joy Williams, and Senior
Minister Emeritus of the Riverside Church Rev. James Forbes – “Where Do We Go From
Here? MLK and the Future of Inclusion” will explore the themes presented in Dr. King’s
seminal work, address what the challenges are for the next president, forecast what the
Post-Obama years may be like, and recommend how individuals and groups can work
together to effect change.
Other guests will include:
 Tamika Mallory – Civil Rights Activist, Justice League NYC
 Joshua Lazard – Writer, minister and cultural critic
 Rabbi Ben Kamin – MLK Scholar and author of 11 books on civil rights and
spirituality
 Nisha Agarwal – Commissioner, Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs
The event will also feature special performances by hip-hop recording artist and social
activist Talib Kweli and singer-songwriter Marcelle Davies-Lashley, multi-media
presentations by WNYC’s Radio Rookies, and poetry readings by Staceyann Chin
representing the voices of marginalized groups.
“We’re thrilled to partner once again with the Apollo Theater to celebrate the legacy of Dr.
King,” said Brian Lehrer. “During the last year of his life, he grappled with the realities of
an uncertain future, not unlike many Americans today. We’re looking forward to convening
some of the brightest minds to discuss how Dr. King’s work can offer guidance, insight and
hope for our time.”
“In addition to its rich legacy of presenting world class talent, the Apollo Theater has
served as a constant resource and a town hall for its surrounding community as well as for
people across New York City since its inception in 1934,” said Jonelle Procope, President
& CEO of the Apollo Theater. “The Theater has always been a kind of organic gathering
place for people particularly at historic moments in African American culture, as when
thousands of people flocked to the Theater when Michael Jackson, James Brown and Prince
passed away. Apollo Uptown Hall is a natural extension of that role, and so we are
extremely proud to partner with WNYC again for the fourth year for their annual Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day celebration.”
“Where Do We Go From Here? MLK and the Future of Inclusion,” is free and open to the
public, but RSVPs are mandatory at: apollotheater.org/event/uptown-hall/
About WNYC
With an urban vibrancy and a global perspective, WNYC is New York’s public radio station,
broadcasting and streaming award-winning journalism, groundbreaking audio
programming and essential talk radio to the city and beyond. WNYC is a leading member
station of NPR and also broadcasts programs from the BBC World Service, along with a
roster of WNYC-produced local programs that champion the stories and spirit of New York
City and the surrounding region. From its state-of-the-art studios, WNYC is reshaping audio
for a new generation of listeners, producing some of the most-loved nationally-syndicated
public radio programs including Radiolab, On the Media, The Takeaway and Snap Judgment.
WNYC broadcasts on 93.9 FM and AM 820 to listeners in New York and the tri-state area,
and is available to audiences everywhere at WNYC.org, the WNYC app and through major
digital radio services, all made possible through the generous support of our members,
donors and sponsors.
About The Apollo Theater
The legendary Apollo Theater—the soul of American culture—plays a vital role in
cultivating emerging talents and launching legends. Since its founding, the Apollo has
served as a center of innovation and a creative catalyst for Harlem, the city of New York,
and the world.
With music at its core, the Apollo’s programming extends to dance, theater, performance
art, spoken word initiatives, and more. This includes the October 2014 premiere and 2015
international tour of the dance celebration project James Brown: Get on the Good Foot, the
annual Africa Now! Festival, and the recent New York premiere of the opera Charlie
Parker’s YARDBIRD. The Apollo is a presenting organization that also produces festivals,
large-scale dance and music works organized around a set of core initiatives: Apollo Music
Signature Programs—Amateur Night, Salon Series, Apollo Music Café; Legacy Series—
work that celebrates and extends the Apollo’s legacy through a contemporary lens; Global
Festivals including the Women of the World (WOW) Festival and Breakin’ Convention,
international and U.S.-based artist presentations focused on a specific theme; and Special
Projects, multidisciplinary work with partner organizations.
Since introducing the first Amateur Night contests in 1934, the Apollo Theater has served
as a testing ground for new artists working across a variety of art forms, and has ushered in
the emergence of many new musical genres—including jazz, swing, bebop, R&B, gospel,
blues, soul, and hip hop. Among the countless legendary performers who launched their
careers at the Apollo are D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Machine Gun Kelly, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah
Vaughan, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross,
and Stevie Wonder; and the Apollo’s forward-looking artistic vision continues to build on
this legacy.
The Apollo Theater is a not-for-profit organization with the mission to extend the
institution’s role in fostering artistic innovation and in building appreciation of American
culture around the world. For more information, visit www.apollotheater.org .
About March on Washington Film Festival
The March on Washington Film Festival, a non-profit program of The Raben Group, strives to
increase awareness of the untold events and unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Era, draw
connections to the social justice issues of today, and inspire renewed passion for activism. The
festival uses the power of film, music, and the arts to share these important stories. It was
founded in 2013, on the 50th anniversary of the original March on Washington. The next
festival dates are July 14-22, 2017 in Washington, D.C.
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Contacts
For Apollo Theater:
Nina Flowers
Director of Public Relations and Communications
[email protected]
212.531.5334
Jarred Hopkins
Public Relations Manager
[email protected]
212.531.5340
For WNYC:
Jennifer Houlihan Roussel
Vice President, Corporate Communications
[email protected]
646.829.4497
Camille Ortiz
Publicist
[email protected]
646.829.4331