The Martin Luther King Jr. celebration will kick off Coastal Carolina University's annual African-American Celebration on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. in Wall Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

This celebration of unity and diversity will feature guest speaker the Rev. Stephen D. Brown, pastor at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Mullins, and the harmonies of the Coastal Carolina University Gospel Choir.

Brown, a native of Conway, has been a pastor for more than five years. He earned a bachelor's degree in humanities and religion from Allen University. He serves on Horry-Georgetown Technical College President's Board for Access and Equity and the Homewood Elementary School Improvement Council. He is the founder and CEO of Living Word Ministries Inc., which is the outreach and publication ministry for his sermons, lectures and writing.

The Gospel Choir, comprised of more than 30 students, provides a means for students to express and showcase their talents and love of gospel music. Established in 1988, the choir has performed around South Carolina as well as the southeast. David Manigo is director. Wall Auditorium is located in the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration. The program is co-sponsored by the Rho Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

For more information call Coastal's Office of Multicultural Student Services at 349-2863.