I gotta give a shout out to my sister in-law Michelle Day. This past April she was in India with the Thelonious Monk Institute to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther Kings visit to that country. Also this year along with hubby Jim Day and his company JD Associates she helped produce the celebration of the 39th anniversary of Earth Day on the National Mall in Washington, DC. This event themed "the Green Generation" was the start of a ramp up to the 40th anniversary celebration in 2010 in April.
Here's a little bit about this sister. PEACE!
Michelle M. Day, Vice President, Operations
Michelle Day has provided production and logistical services for leading political figures, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and the entertainment industry for more than a decade. Since 1997, she has directed a variety of events for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, including international jazz education tours sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, as well as the annual Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition. From 1993 to 1995, Day served as Director of Advance for former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ronald Brown, managing the logistics for a number of international trade missions, including visits to Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Through this work, she became well versed in the composition of the Washington, DC embassy community, as well as the U.S. State Department desk and worldwide embassy system. Day has also been involved in producing high-profile events held on The National Mall, including The March to Conquer Cancer, Earth Day, the Million Mom March, and the March for Women's Lives. Through her work with Festival Productions and the Institute, Day has worked with celebrities including Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Prince, Barbra Streisand, and Stevie Wonder.
Ravi Shankar surrounded by students that attended the joint Shankar School/Monk Institute of Jazz workshop
February, 2009
Institute Musicians Participate in U.S. State Department Mission to India Marking 50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Visit to India
The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz was pleased to partner with the U.S. Department of State for a February 2009 mission to India, marking the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott Kings' historic trip to India to study Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violence movement. The King's month-long journey proved to be a pivotal cornerstone of the Civil Rights movement because of lessons learned throughout the course of the trip and adopted upon Dr. King’s return to the United States.
This was the first diplomatic, educational, and cultural mission under the Obama Administration. Martin Luther King III, who represented the King family, was joined by the current class of students at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance and world-renowned musicians including Herbie Hancock, Dee Dee Bridgewater, George Duke, Chaka Khan, and other distinguished guests. Rep. John Lewis led a Congressional delegation that included former Congressman and United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young. Both Lewis and Young were close associates and lieutenants to Dr. King.
The Institute presented several exciting jazz education programs as part of the 10-day mission highlighting Dr. King’s message of justice, equality, and peace. In addition to presenting "Living the Dream" concerts for the people of New Delhi and Mumbai, the musicians conducted a master class at the Ravi Shankar Institute for Music and Performing Arts, with Ravi Shankar participating, and led several other education programs throughout India.
Numerous public programs involving
government officials, civic leaders, scholars, and youth underscored the enduring importance of the Gandhi and King legacies and the wisdom of the two visionaries. The group also retraced some of the important steps taken by Dr. and Mrs. King, traveling across India to principal sites associated with Mahatma Gandhi’s work.
Earth Day Celebration, National Mall, Washington, DC 2009
Read more on what the Thelonious Monk Institute is doing for young musicians around the world:
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