Service opportunities, lectures and other special programs at Elon in January will commemorate the legacy of the late civil rights leader. MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry's visit to campus on Jan. 6 headlines the event series.
Elon University will celebrate the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this winter with a series of events hosted by several departments, offices and programs on campus.
The 2016 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Beloved Community Celebration was organized by the Center for Race, Ethnicity & Diversity Education, Elon Teaching Fellows, the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement, the Office of Student Activities, and the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life.
Anyone with questions about the following events is encouraged to contact Jamie Butler, assistant director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity & Diversity Education, at 336-278-7243 or jbutler18@elon.edu.
Wednesday, January 6
2016 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Beloved Community Celebration –
MLK Commemorative Keynote: Melissa Harris-Perry
6 p.m.
McCrary Theatre
In addition to hosting her program on MSNBC, Harris-Perry is presidential chair and professor of politics and international affairs at Wake Forest University. Her academic research and published work investigate persistent, harmful stereotypes in contemporary society that hinder African-American men and women in asserting their rights in political, economic and social arenas. Harris-Perry is founding director of the Anna Julia Cooper Project, which supports a multi-faceted mission to move beyond the black/white paradigm in the study of race specifically at the intersections of gender, class, sexuality and region.
Monday, January 18
Remembrance March
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Global Commons building
Please join representatives from Elon University student organizations and community members in an MLK Remembrance March beginning at Global Commons and ending at the Moseley steps with a candlelight vigil. Excerpts and reflections from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches will be featured during the march.
Tuesday, January 19
Get on the Bus Service Project Series: Salvation Army
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Join the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement for Elon’s annual celebration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Week of Service. Please use this link to sign up.
Beloved Community College Coffee
12 p.m.
McKinnon Hall in Moseley Center
Elon University’s Office of Student Activities will sponsor a special College Coffee to honor the winners of the MLK Commemorative Essay Contest. We invite the campus community to attend and commemorate the life and legacy of one of the world’s most inspiring human rights leaders.
“What Does MLK Say to Us Today?”
5:30 p.m.
McBride Gathering Space of the Numen Lumen Pavilion
Sponsored by the Truitt Center for Religious & Spiritual Life, along with DEEP, the CREDE and InterVarsity Justice Team, this discussion will explore how King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” applies to us today.
Wednesday, January 20
Get on the Bus Service Project Series: Blood Drive
All-Day Event
Join the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement for Elon’s annual celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Week of Service. To volunteer, email blooddrive@elon.edu. To give blood, sign up at http://www.redcrossblood.org/ and use the sponsor code “Elon.”
“Why We Can’t Wait Now” Oratorical Contest
6 p.m.
Moseley 215
The Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Diversity Education, along with the MLK Community Celebration Committee, is hosting the first MLK Oratorical Contest. Based on national news and race relations in our society, hear Elon students response to the question “why can’t we wait.”
Thursday, January 21
Get on the Bus Service Project Series: Habitat Restore
8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Join the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement for Elon’s annual celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Week of Service. Please use this link to sign up.
MLK Multifaith Service
12 p.m.
Sacred Space of the Numen Lumen Pavilion
Much of MLK’s work was rooted in his role as a religious leader. While he was a Christian minister, he also greatly influenced and was influenced by leaders of many other faith traditions. Students and staff connected to Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life from many traditions will offer a service in the spirit of MLK and his life, his passion and his principles.
Friday, January 22
Get on the Bus Service Project Series: Goodwill Retail Store
8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Join the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement for Elon’s annual celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Week of Service. Please use this link to sign up.
MLK Social Justice Poetry Slam and Open Mic
Feature Artist: Josephus III
7 p.m.
Oak House (Williamson Avenue)
With the mind of an engineer, the voice of a poet, and the heart and soul of a visionary, Josephus III is constantly transcending barriers. Whether standing alone or surrounded by instruments, he has taken this art form to the next level. His words mesh with the music to create a unique sound that is memorable and mesmerizing. His music and poetry reach a broad worldwide audience in the R&B, NeoSoul, Pop, Hip-Hop, and Jazz fan-bases. His Soul shines through, creating the “Soul Poetry” that paints the colors of his life.