News: Marian Wright Edelman to Deliver Portland State's MLK Jr. Tribute, Jan 17th
Author: Kristine-Anne R. Sarreal, Office of University Communications, 503.725.8555
Posted: December 19, 2007
What: Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund, will be the featured speaker at PSU's community-wide event, commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The evening also includes special performances by the Highland Choir. The event is sponsored by Portland State University and Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Marian Wright Edelman
When: Thursday, January 17, 2008, at 7 p.m.

Where: Lincoln Performance Hall, room 175 (1620 SW Park Avenue).

Cost: Tickets for the event are $10 for the general public and free for students with a valid student ID. They are available for purchase at the PSU Box Office (SMSU, room 102) by calling 503-725-3307 or through all Ticketmaster outlets. Seating is limited.

Contact: For more information call Sa'eed Haji at 503-725-5345. Media requests for an interview with Marian Wright Edelman should be directed to Angela Abel at 503-725-8794.

Background: Marian Wright Edelman, a lifelong advocate for the American people, was the first black woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar. She began her role in the civil rights movement as a director for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and later became a counsel for Dr. King's "Poor People's Campaign." Edelman went on to establish and lead the Children's Defense Fund. She is the recipient of the 2000 Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Robert F. Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award.

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