Jan. 14

Farai Chideya, of National Public Radio, will be the keynote speaker for Maryville University's Dr. Martin Luther King Day Celebration. Chideya will speak at noon, Jan. 14, in the University Auditorium. The event is free.

She has written three non-fiction books on race, politics and media and recently published her first novel, "Kiss the Sky."

Jan. 15

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Celebration at the St. Louis Art Museum is titled, "If It Wasn't for the Women." The free event celebrates women who hare worked are are working for justice and peace. 7:30-9 p.m. In the auditorium. (Information: 314-721-0072)

Jan. 17

Sylvester Brown, former columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, will address the annual Martin Luther King Celebration sponsored by the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy. The talk, at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 1570 Chambers Road, Dellwood, is at 3 p.m. and the topic will be "Defining a Racial Agenda in a 'Post-Racial' Society." A reception will follow the free event. (Information: 314-867-2881)

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The New Sunny Mount Missionary Baptist Gospel Choir celebrates the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at 2:30 p.m. in the MacDermott Grand Hall of the Missouri History Museum. Free (Information: 314-746-4599)

Jan. 18

United Way is looking for 1,500 volunteers to help "Live the Dream. Live United."

According to the United Way, "Starting at 9 a.m., volunteers age 13 and older will work in groups to clean and paint schools, places of worship and other facilities in low-income neighborhoods in north St. Louis areas. Weather permitting, some outdoor beautification in neighborhoods will be added. From 1-3 p.m., lunch will be provided ... and a discussion aimed at generating mutual understanding and a commitment to continued service throughout metro St. Louis will take place."

Contact United Way at 314-539-4298 or online at www.stl.unitedway.org/mlkday to find out more or sign up.

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Saint Louis University will host a Seeds of Courage presentation in Honor of MLK Jr. Day. At noon in the chapel of SLU Hospital, Desloge Tower, the public can join a celebration of the lives of Martin Luther King Jr.; Dorothy Stang, SSND; and the Jesuit martyrs and women killed at the University of Central America in El Salvador 20 years ago.

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Jabari Asim will be the keynote speaker at the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday celebration at the University of Missouri-St. Louis at 10 a.m. Jan. 18 in the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.

The program includes a performance of "Zooman and the Sign," depicting a community's response to violence directed by Adeniyi "Niyi" Coker, E. Des Lee Endowed Professor of African & African American Studies. The Dickson Quartet will also perform.

Asim, a St. Louis native and scholar-in-residence at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is the author of the 2009 book "What Obama Means, For Our Culture, Our Politics, Our Future" as well as 2007's "The N Word: Who Can Say it, Who Shouldn't And Why." His first novel, "Nappy Days," and three children's books are due out in 2010.

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The University of Missouri-St. Louis needs 400 volunteers to honor the memory of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. by serving those less fortunate on Jan. 18. Coordinators of UMSL's second annual MLK Day of Service have lined up 18 project sites in the community.

Participants may register as individuals or as a group online at: fusion.umsl.edu/studentlife/community/mlkdos.cfm or call the Office of Student Life at UMSL 314-516-5291. Registration deadline is Jan. 15.

Jan. 20

Children's choirs from the African-American and Jewish communities will join together in "A Celebration in Song," from noon-1 p.m. at Covenant House, 10 Millstone Campus Drive, Creve Coeur.

Taking part will be the Confluence Academy-Old North 5th Grade Choir, the Saul Mirowitz Day School/Reform Jewish Academy 3rd/4th Grade Choir and the Solomon Schechter Day School of St. Louis Chorus. Also speaking at the event will be Rev. Earl Nance, past president of the St. Louis Clergy Coalition and Pastor at Greater Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, and Rabbi Susan Talve of Central Reform Congregation.

Those coming to the free event are asked to bring a can to donate to the Jewish Food Pantry. (Information: 314-442-3894 or email [email protected])

Jan. 23

The Society of Black Student Social Workers at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work will host "Financial Freedom Seminar: Tying Loose Ends--Becoming Financially Secure," from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. in Brown Hall, Room 100, Washington University. The free public seminar is designed for St. Louis community youth and adults interested in building wealth, repairing and maintaining good credit, purchasing a home or starting and expanding a business. (Information: http://brownschool.wustl.edu , e-mail [email protected] or call 314- 935-3466.

Jan. 29

The Black Rep Touring Company of St. Louis will perform "The Strong Men," a choreographed poetry performance from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.in the Southwestern Illinois College Belleville Campus Theatre, 2500 Carlyle Ave. Student readings of The Rev. Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech will be part of the free public program. A reception will follow in the Theatre lobby. Reservations are recommended. (Information: 618-235-2700, ext. 5360)