Welcome to the faces&voices web site on Dubuque Community Schools

Here's the poster for the 2009 event. Click on it to enlarge or print for your very own. Are you p lanning on going to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Breakfast in January? You can register online by clicking here! Keynote speakers are Claudette and Rov. Tim Bees, "Two People - One World." The MLK Birthday Breakfast is a very popular annual event in Dubuque, and it's wise to get your reservation in early. Now it's more convenient than ever. See you on January 19th at the Grand River Center. Pre-registration tickets are only $10 (late price is $15).

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Event 2007 featuring John-Paul-Chaisson-Cardenas.

We've got the whole 42 minute program recorded live at the Grand River Center. Keynote speaker is John-Paul-Chaisson-Cardena, and there are some other surprises. So click back and enjoy the celebration.

For a special and exclusive Musical Moment Video Recording prepared for the Dubuque Community School District and starring Doreen's Jazz New Orleans, click on this button.

The Dubuque Branch of the NAACP and
faces&voices Present:

A New Orleans Flavored Celebration of Martin Luther King

he Fourteenth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast at The Grand River Center, featured Doreen's Jazz New Orleans. Keynote speaker was Evelyne Jobe Villines, of Des Moines, IA (right). Evelyne believes there are parallels between the struggles of the civil rights movement, championed by Dr. King, and the battle to remove structural and attitudinal barriers for persons with disabilities. She finds her inspiration through the words and examples of Rosa Parks, Helen Keller, President Franklin Roosevelt, and Dr. King. Her speech is an emotional and often funny portrayal of her life and experiences. It's certainly entertaining. Evelyne was an advisor to Iowa Governors and congressmen, President Clinton, and she is a lifelong advocate for persons with disabilities.

Special Entertainment by
Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans!

The informal concert at Hempstead for in-service teachers was held over lunch. it was pizza, pop and New Orleans style jazz. At left is Lawrence Ketchens, Doreen's husband. The interview with Lawrence reveals how they met (he was jazz and she was classical), how they combined musical forces to create Jazz New Orleans, and how they were devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

We recorded Doreen's special concert at Hempstead High School on January 16th. Plus there are interviews with her and her husband, both incredible musicians. We've provided audio files in Windows Media, RealPlayer and MP3 for Podcasting. You can download the MP3 file onto your computer and, using your portable personal player device software, transfer the file from your PC to your MP3 player. Instructions are in the right hand column under TechTip.

The following is from Doreen's Jazz Official Website: We are Doreen's Jazz New Orleans, The Show Stealers. Our show stopping performances at private engagements and music festivals all over the United States, Canada, Europe and the Far East have given us this name. We are experienced at putting on shows that make the audience go crazy with excitement, while displaying professionalism that will leave even the strictest critic in awe. We have grown quickly by word of mouth, newspapers, radio and television appearances on programs such as CNN , "A Current Affair," "Cops," VH1 , & PBS Specials and commercials that constantly speak of how much music and excitement we create. Our most recent picture on the cover of April 1996 Lufthansa Airlines in-flight magazine was voted the most popular picture in the air. On an annual basis, our average performances are in thirty-six states and ten countries, including Belgium, Germany, Canada, Denmark, France, Holland, Switzerland and Taiwan.

Photos on this page are linked to enlargements suitable for printing at home. Just click on them.

For a special and exclusive Musical Moment Video Recording prepared for the Dubuque Community School District and starring Doreen's Jazz New Orleans, click on this button.

Doreen and her daughter are in the left column, top. The Ketchens were invited by the principal of Hempstead High School, David Olson, who met the band and became friends during a vaction trip to New Orleans. When Hurricane Katrina hit, he called his friends in New Orleans and asked how his family could help. Bringing them to Dubuque was the best kind of help, and they've been raising money all the while they've been in here playing concerts.

Above left is Lawrence Ketchens who plays tuba. Both met while studying music at Loyola University in New Orleans. Interviews with the musican are heard on the podcast audio below.

Hempstead teachers and students were on hand for the noon concert, and this crew helped serve pizzas and pop (click on any photo on this page to download a printable enlargement).