INDIANA UNIVERSITY PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING Administration Building, Suite 136 355 N. Lansing Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-2896 317-274-7711 Fax: 317-274-5457

COMMUNITY SERVICE, DINNER FEATURING BET TALK SHOW HOST TAVIS SMILEY MARK DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CELEBRATION AT IUPUI

INDIANAPOLIS - IUPUI's 2001 celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will begin Monday (Jan.15) morning with the third annual "day-on" of community service, and will continue that evening when the campus Black Student Union presents the 31st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner.

More than 100 Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis staff, faculty and students will perform volunteer services at 13 Indianapolis community sites in honor of the legacy of King's life of service.

Black Entertainment Television (BET) talk show host Tavis Smiley, raised in north central Indiana and educated at IU Bloomington, will be the featured speaker for the 7 p.m. dinner at the Indiana Roof Ballroom, 140 W. Washington St. This year's theme is "Advocacy: Dr King's Influence in the 21st Century."

"Our annual celebration of the life, work and ideals of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. is an opportunity to publicly reaffirm our commitment to diversity," said IUPUI Chancellor Gerald L. Bepko, "and to renew our determination to pursue a concept of educational opportunity that mirrors the populations of our city, state and nation."

Smiley, host of the "BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley," is the author of three other books, including "Doing What's Right: How to Fight for What You Believe and Make a Difference." Described as one of America's most promising young leaders, Smiley is also a featured speaker on the nationally syndicated "Tom Joyner Show."

Following the dinner, X-Pressions Book Store will host a book signing featuring Smiley's latest publications, "How to Make Black America Better." The book will be available in bookstores nationally Jan. 16.

"I am very pleased that we are bringing (Smiley) to Campus," said IUPUI student Starla Hart, "He can speak well on the issue of advocacy."

"Given his affiliation with the 'Tom Joyner Morning Show', he should have a good rapport with students attending the dinner," said Hart, past BSU president and one of the student organizers for this year's event.

Though the campus is closed for classes, IUPUI continues to build upon the new tradition of spending the King holiday at work making the community a better place.

"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived by a philosophy of service to mankind. For us as a university, it is important to practice the same philosophy," said David Fredricks, community service project coordinator with the IUPUI Office of Neighbor Resources. "With the day off without classes, it would be best for us to honor Dr. King by going out and doing service for the community."

The complete listing of sites schedule for IUPUI's Martin Luther King Jr. service projects follows:

· Atkins Boys & Girls Club 3131 W. 16th St. (317) 632-5766 Contact: Willie Gupton. Task: Painting

· Hawthorne Community Center 2440 W. Ohio St. (317) 637-4312 Contact: Diane Arnold. Task: Painting and Working in the Clothing Pantry

· Southwest Community Center W. Washington and Lynch Task: Painting and Cleaning

· Wheeler Mission 245 N. Delaware St. (317) 635-3575 Contact: Tiffany Powell. Task: Serving Lunch

· Holy Family Shelter 30 E. Palmer St. (One block east of South Meridian.) (317) 635-7830 Contact: Amy Moelhman. Task: Basic Clean-up

· St. Elizabeth Shelter 2500 Churchman Ave. (Off Raymond St.) (317) 787-3412 Contact: David Syler. Task: Putting up Shelving

· Harbour Lights Mission 927 N. Pennsylvania Contact: Maggie Lunden (317) 687-3714, Ext. 134

· Dayspring Center 1537 N. Central Contact: Meliny Priest (317) 635-6780

· Mary Rigg Center 1920 West Morris St. Contact: Dr. Bob (317) 639-6106. Task: Working with Children

· Our Redeemer Lutheran Church 3421 N. Park Ave. (317) 925-3588. Task: Painting

· Watkins Park Community Center 2360 Dr. Martin Luther King St. Task: Painting

· Senior Citizens Home of Indianapolis 708 E. Michigan St. Task: Cleaning and Serving Lunch.

· Martin Luther King Jr. Park 1701 Broadway Task: Spruce-up

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