MLK Speechwriter Clarence Jones is keynote speaker in 2015 Celebration
On the last week of January, the University kicks off “Dare to Dream,” a full week of activities in celebration of the life and influence of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A volunteer committee of 21 staff, students, and community members is organizing the 2015 event.
Visit fairfield.edu/mlk .
Here is the schedule:
Monday, January 26, 6-8 p.m. MOVIE NIGHT featuring
This documentary film from 2012 tells the dramatic story of Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple living in Virginia in the 1950s, and their landmark Supreme Court Case that changed history— Loving v. Virginia.
Following the movie, there will be a discussion with these panelists:
Dr. Rachelle Brunn, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Dr. Cecelia Bucki, Professor of History
Nicole Davidow ’15
Dr. Elizabeth Hohl, Visiting Assistant Professor of History
Sydney Johnson, Head Coach, Men’s Basketball
Dr. Maggie Labinski, Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Dr. David McFadden, Professor of History
This event is funded in part through a grant from The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History program “Created Equal: America's Civil Rights Struggle.”
Tuesday, January 27, 2-3:30 p.m. MEMORIAL MARCH
Students and faculty will participate in a Memorial March around campus to raise awareness about the history of social justice and activism at ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ.
Wednesday, January 28, 7 p.m. CONVOCATION & VISION AWARDS
The 2015 MLK Convocation will feature Dr. Clarence B. Jones , political advisor, counsel, and former draft speechwriter for Dr. King. He is currently a visiting professor at the University of San Francisco and a scholar writer-in-residence at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research & Education Institute at Stanford University.
Presentations of this year’s Vision Awards to three members of the University community will be made at the Convocation. Winners of the essay contest for middle-schoolers, which they wrote in response to the questions “What do Dreams and Hope mean to you? How do you put your dreams and hopes for justice and equality into action?”, will also be announced. (The contest is co-sponsored by the Connecticut Post. )
The Convocation will be preceded by a reception and special performance by the Glee Club’s a capella groups Sweet Harmony and the Bensonians.
Thursday, January 29, 4 p.m. DAY OF SERVICE
¼â½ÐÊÓƵ student-athletes will host activities in the RecPlex with 60 middle-school students from Bridgeport schools, followed by interactive time with the University groups Performing For Change and Common Ground. Visiting students will have dinner on campus and then attend the Stags women’s basketball game that evening.
Friday, January 30, 10 a.m. YOUTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
The University will host more than 100 eighth-graders in the Youth Leadership Academy, where they will learn leadership skills, including conflict resolution, anti-bullying techniques, and more.
Friday, January 30, 6 p.m. POETRY FOR PEACE
For the seventh year, Poetry for Peace brings elementary school students from Bridgeport schools to campus to read their award-winning poetry. .
