Bruce S. Gordon, president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), will provide a special keynote address as UNLV celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at a community event on Thursday, January 19 at 12:15 PM. This 2 nd annual celebration, which will also feature musical performances by UNLV students, is free and open to the public.

As a leading institution of higher education, UNLV is home to a rich diversity among its faculty, staff and students, and is committed to maintaining a campus environment which values that diversity. By hosting this event and highlighting Dr. King's work in the context of current issues, the university aims to promote a more inclusive, welcoming and affirming community.

"It is absolutely critical to remember the life of Dr. King and to apply the lessons of his experience, and his struggle for social justice and civil rights, to the issues we face in our own lives today," said university President Carol C. Harter. "We are delighted to present this event, and to have the opportunity to bring our community together to celebrate Dr. King's legacy."

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at UNLV is sponsored by MGM MIRAGE, UNLV Human Resources and Diversity Initiatives, UNLV Multicultural Programs, Student Involvement and Activities, the Las Vegas Branch and UNLV Chapter of the NAACP, and the Las Vegas Urban Chamber of Commerce.

"MGM MIRAGE is committed to continuing the legacy of Dr. King and to help improve the quality of life in our community for all people," said Punam Mathur, MGM MIRAGE Senior Vice President of Corporate Diversity and Community Affairs. "Dr. King's ideas for social and economic equality have influenced our community involvement and diversity programs. I can't think of a better way to mark this celebration of his life than by having the new president of one of the leading civil rights organizations here."

Keynote speaker Bruce S. Gordon became President and CEO of the NAACP in August, 2005, following a 35 year career in the telecommunications industry. Before retiring in December 2003, Gordon was president - Retail Markets Group for Verizon Communications, responsible for the company's consumer and small business customers. Prior to the Bell Atlantic/GTE merger in 2000, he served as group president of Bell Atlantic's Enterprise business unit.

Gordon was named by Fortune magazine to its list of "50 Most Powerful Black Executives' in 2002, and by Black Enterprise magazine as "Executive of the Year" in 1998. A graduate of Gettysburg College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he was an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow, he is a member of the board of Southern Company and Tyco International, Ltd. He also serves on the Executive Leadership Council, and is a trustee of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Foundation.

Free public parking will be available for the event at 1420 East Harmon, First Church of Religious Science. Shuttle service will be provided. Members of the community are advised to arrive early to allow for transit time. Wheelchair assistance and sign language interpreters will be available for this event.