The Swain County Martin Luther King Jr. Commission will present its first event, “Remember, Celebrate, Act 2008: A Celebration of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” from 1 to 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 21, at the Historic Calhoun House in Bryson City.

The celebration will feature special guest speakers, including the Rev. George Allison, Director of the State of North Carolina Martin Luther King Jr. Commission; the Rev. Victoria Casey-McDonald, author of A Pictorial History: The African-Americans of Jackson County; and Jacquelyn Hallum, Director of Health Careers and Diversity Management at Mountain Area Health Education Center will present “Be the Change” as her topic for the celebration. Remarks will also be made by Denise Tyson, founding member of the Swain County Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, Swain County Commissioner Steve Moon and by local business representatives Ckye Chen of Yummi Yummi Restaurant, Bridget Hines of the Nantahala Outdoor Center, and Christine Colcord of the Bryson City Branch of the United Community Bank.

Musical performances will include the local favorite, Clearly Celtic, and interludes will be performed by the Mountain Strings Dulcimer Club. Light food and refreshments will also be served at this first ever event in Swain County.

The Swain County Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, which was formed in March of 2007, came together with the expressed intent to begin a tradition of celebrating and promoting the ideals set forth by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The group’s mission is to promote mutual respect and celebrate diversity. Those interested in joining the commission, which will begin planning for 2009 in February, can contact Denise Tyson at 828.488.3878.

The Historic Calhoun House is located in downtown Bryson City at 135 Everett Street.

For more information on “Remember, Celebrate, Act 2008,” contact Denise Tyson at 828.488.3878.