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As the United States prepares to inaugurate its first African-American president, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and the community will recognize the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 19.

The 14th-annual community celebration will begin with a reception at 5 p.m. in Reeve Memorial Union Ballroom, 748 Algoma Blvd. Dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m., followed by a program at 6:15 p.m.

The program will feature two University of Wisconsin-Madison professors, who will reflect on King’s words and race relations today. Carl Grant, a professor in UW-Madison’s School of Education, specializes in multicultural education. Michael Thornton, a professor in the UW-Madison Department of Afro-American Studies, studies who and why people cross racial and cultural boundaries.

Other program highlights include excerpts and awards for Oshkosh Area School District essay contest winners, excerpts from the “I Have a Dream” speech and the unveiling of the Anna Julia Cooper Black Heritage Stamp. One Oshkosh’s Celebration of Diversity of Award will be presented to an individual who has made a difference in the community.

The cost to attend is $20 per person or $200 for a corporate table for 10. To register, call (920) 303-2263 by Jan. 14.

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