It is day to remember, a day to dream and a day to sing.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, Jan. 18.

The family series at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts will present an evening of performance devoted to honoring the memory of the fallen civil rights leader with two programs that begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15.

Presented first will be “The Right To Dream” performed by Marcel Davis of the Living Voices theater company in Seattle.

Imagine taking a journey to a watershed moment in time. Consider your place in history and what it was like to live in a time when King’s voice still rang out with oratory fire. Through the magic of video and an interactive performance by Davis, “The Right To Dream” presents an up-close and personal look at a volatile period in American history during the Civil Rights Movement.

“The Right to Dream” tells the story of Raymond Hollis, the Mississippi son of a World War II African American soldier. His mother is a domestic worker who is respected in their small Mississippi town. As a young boy, Raymond befriends a white boy and the two become great friends.

Raymond becomes aware that segregation and inequality must be ended in order to imagine a brighter future for himself and his family.

When Raymond wins a scholarship to Tougaloo College, he becomes involved with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and takes part in the sit-ins and protests of the early 1960s. When friends are hurt, and civil rights workers are killed, Raymond’s dedication to creating a colorblind society is tested.

After attacks by state troopers in Selma, Ala., Raymond and the civil rights workers are rewarded with the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr., Raymond dedicates himself to continuing the fight against racism and changing a world of intolerance to one of equality and freedom for every citizen.

The evening continues honoring the work of King with song.

Following intermission, get ready to stand up and sing with the Total Experience Gospel Choir.

The choir was organized in September 1973 at the Mount Zion Baptist Church of Seattle. The core group represented members of the “Black Experience Gospel Choir” of Roosevelt High School and the Franklin High School Gospel Choir of Seattle.

Coming together to sing under the leadership of pastor Patrinell Wright, the choir became known as “Total Experience Gospel Choir,” with the community’s children also invited to participate. The choir’s numbers grew to 108 within the first two months, with the youngest person being 8. Today the choir’s ages range from 10 to 65.

In 1997, Wright co-founded and became pastor of the Oneness Christian Center in Seattle, a spiritual refuge for those who have been hit by some of life’s hardest challenges.

When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast areas of Louisiana and Mississippi in 2005, Wright dedicated many hours to hurricane relief work. She and the Total Experience Gospel Choir visited the areas in 2006 to help rebuild lives and property. The choir returned to the Gulf Coast more than once to complete its mission to rebuild homes.

ABC News World News Tonight named Wright “Person of the Week” in May 2007 and on April 9, 2008, DirectTV aired a special program entitled “Hometown Heroes” honoring Pastor Wright and Total Experience Gospel Choir for their work on the Gulf Coast of Miss.

Since its inception, the choir has become known as one of the Pacific Northwest’s finest soulful ensembles and even won a silver medal at the Busan International Choral Festival and Competition in South Korea in 2007.

In addition to her numerous musical achievements, Wright and the and Total Experience Gospel Choir are featured artists on Dave Matthews’ CD entitled “Same Devil” on the song “Save Me.” Her latest credit is on the soundtrack of the movie “Because of Winn-Dixie” on the song “Glory, Glory.”

The choir has performed nationally in 38 states, and internationally in 28 countries and on five continents.

During their Whidbey visit, the choir is expected to perform old African American spirituals, traditional gospel music, patriotic music and selections from the choir’s compilation entitled, “Seven Songs for America and One for the World,” inspired by President Barack Obama.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for seniors, military and youth (25 and younger.)

Call 221-8268 or visit www.WICAonline.com.