Cathy Counts-Pollard, center, sings and directs the MLK Adult choir Monday at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance at the Kansas Union Ballroom. Kimberly Ventus-Darks was the guest speaker.

Photo by Mike Yoder

Kimberly Ventus-Darks, guest speaker at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance on Monday, grabs mayor Mike Dever from the audience as a volunteer during her talk at the Kansas Union Ballroom. The annual holiday observance featured performances by the MLK youth and adult choirs.

Photo by Mike Yoder

At foreground right, Deb Engstrom sings "Lift Every Voice and Sing", with her granddaughter Rejjin Jackson, 7, Monday at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance at the Kansas Union Ballroom. Kimberly Ventus-Darks was the guest speaker.

Photo by Mike Yoder

Members of the MLK Youth Choir perform the song "Ezekiel Saw the Wheel" Monday at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance at the Kansas Union Ballroom.

Photo by Mike Yoder

William Pollard III, 5, left, spins with the movements of a song he and other members of the MLK Youth Choir were singing at Monday night's observance honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Kansas University's Murphy Hall.

Photo by Mike Yoder

From left, Abby Wallace, 7, Annie Olson, 8, and Eli Seidner, 7, perform Sunday during the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Gospel Musical at the Mustard Seed Christian Fellowship.

Photo by John Henry

The Rev. Ricky Rambo of First Regular Baptist Church leads a prayer during the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Gospel Musical. Clergy from several Lawrence churches and youth and adult choirs participated in the celebration Sunday.

Photo by John Henry

Front row from left, Johnnette Franklin, Eva Daniels and Tina Franklin, all of Lawrence, sing with the Martin Luther King Adult Choir during the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Gospel Musical. The event was Sunday at the Mustard Seed Christian Fellowship, 700 Wakarusa.

Photo by John Henry

Tina Ragsdale of Overland Park sings during the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Gospel on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008 at the Mustard Seed Christian Fellowship.

Photo by John Henry

Silhouetted against the Martin Luther King Jr. Choir, Kathy Counts-Pollard, of Kansas City, Mo., leads the choir Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008 during the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Gospel Musical at the Mustard Seed Christian Fellowship.

Photo by John Henry

Pinckney School kindergartners Max Adams, left, and Nyasha McVay Jordan enjoy the dramatization of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad performed by Reta Cosby at the school's program for Martin Luther King Jr. day Wednesday. The Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday is Monday.

Photo by Mike Yoder