Day of service and celebration in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh in partnership with The Museum of African American History and the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras will present, "A Day of Service and Celebration in Honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.," on Monday, January 18, 2016 at 1pm in Faneuil Hall. 

Tributes to Dr. King will feature family-friendly classical and spiritual pieces performed by BYSO's Intensive Community Program, conducted by Marta Zurad, and leaders in their own fields and in community.    

"The City of Boston has the great privilege of working with the Museum of African History and the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras for its 8th annual Day of Service and Celebration in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.," said Mayor Walsh. "I am proud to continue this unique partnership that allows us to celebrate with purpose and reflection.  While this day is rightfully set aside to formally recognize Dr. King's enormous impact and legacy, let us remember to live out the spirit of this day throughout the year so that we can help realize his dream in our community."   

Civil rights activist, filmmaker and MIT scholar, Topper Carew, will deliver the 2016 Keynote Address. A Boston native, Carew went to study architecture at Howard University, earned Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Environmental Design degrees from Yale and a Doctorate in Communications from the Union Graduate School. He is currently a Research Scholar at the MIT Media Lab and is Director of the two Initiatives, including the Historically Black College and University/MIT Media Lab Innovation Center Collaboration.   

Carew started his film career by making documentaries about the relationship between neighborhood people and architecture, while using it as a community organizing tool and teaching film to inner city youth.      He transitioned to film making after accepting a fellowship to MIT.  Following his years at MIT, he spent four years at WGBH Boston and rose to the rank of Program Manager.  He went on to found an independent production company, Rainbow Television Workshop, which developed content for PBS, HBO, Showtime, and The Disney Channel.  His television series, Martin (FOX), enjoys the rarified distinction of continuing to be off network syndicated. 

Carew has received over 40 film and television awards, and eight gold medals for design.  Past awards of distinction include three Action for Children Awards, four NAACP Image Awards, a People's Choice Award, and a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award.  In all, Carew has produced eight national TV series, 15 independent documentaries, 4 theatrically released films, 15 movies for television, and 300 live concerts.   

A Day of Service and Celebration is produced by the Mayor's Office of Tourism, Sports and Entertainment. Events are free and open to the general public. For further information visit www.cityofboston.gov/tourism or call 617-635-3911.