Geoffrey Canada, president and chief executive officer of the Harlem Children's Zone and a noted author, will be the keynote speaker for Syracuse University's 19th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, "Planting a Seed, Growing the Dream," in the Carrier Dome on Jan. 17, 2004.
The annual celebration is among the largest University-sponsored events commemorating King. Last year, more than 2,000 people attended.
The evening's program, which will include the presentation of the 2004 Unsung Hero Awards and entertainment, begins at 6:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Tickets for the dinner, which precedes the program at 5:30 p.m., are $20 for the general public and $13 for students without meal plans. Students with meal plans will be charged for one dinner. Tickets, which generally sell out soon after they go on sale, will be available Dec. 1; for ticket information, call Hendricks Chapel at 443-5044.
"The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee is very excited to have Geoffrey Canada as this year's keynote speaker," says Hendricks Chapel Dean Thomas V. Wolfe. "His commitment to addressing the issues related to youth violence are not only timely for our community, but also essential to how we imagine living responsibly in community. His message will be words of both truth-telling and hope."
Canada is the acclaimed author of "Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun: A Personal History of Violence in America" (Beacon Press, 1995) and "Reaching Up for Manhood" (Beacon Press, 1998).
A native of the South Bronx, Canada has dedicated his life to helping children who grew up in conditions similar to those faced by his family secure both educational and economic opportunities.
The Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ) is a pioneering, nonprofit, community-based organization that works to enhance the quality of life for children in some of New York City's most devastated neighborhoods. HCZ's 15 centers serve more than 12,600 children and adults.
Canada was the recipient of the first Heinz Award in 1994 for his work with HCZ. He enjoys a national reputation as both an advocate for and expert on issues concerning violence, children and community redevelopment. In May 1994, Canada hosted "Jobs: A Way Out?" a special that aired nationally on PBS and explored the importance of employment opportunities for youth in keeping youth from following a path of violence.
