2014 MLK JR. CELEBRATION Empower the Dream... Make it Your Own Honoring the Civil Rights Movement as the Struggle Continues
A Message from the Chancellor Each January brings us the opportunity to reflect on and to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The lessons he taught through his actions and with his words resonate with us all today and show us how our communities can be better places to live, to work and to learn. Once again this year we have a great variety of opportunities to come together to remember and to honor him. With events that range from educational to entertainment there is sure to be something for everyone. I hope to see you out and about during our 2014 celebration of one of our great American leaders. Sincerely, Phyllis M. Wise Chancellor
Friday, January 17 Sunday, January 19 13TH ANNUAL COUNTYWIDE DR. MLK, JR. CELEBRATION 4:00 to 6:00 PM Hilton Garden Inn 1501 S. Neil Street, Champaign This Annual Countywide celebration commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr s legacy. It brings together community members from Champaign County to celebrate the mission, teachings, and legacy of Dr. King. This year, Cheryl Brown Henderson, President and CEO of the Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence, and Research, will be the keynote speaker. 29TH ANNUAL DR. MLK, JR. ADVOCACY FOR JUSTICE 5:00 to 7:00 PM Foellinger Great Hall Krannert Center for the Performing Arts 500 South Goodwin, Urbana Since 1988, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Advocacy for Justice Committee has awarded over 200 scholarships to students attending the University of Illinois, as well as a number of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This year, along with celebrating the memory of Dr. King, we celebrate one of the Community Choir s long time choir leaders, Mr. Clarence Todd Taylor. As a choir leader, Taylor was a very humble, intelligent, open-hearted, and devoted individual. We were honored to have Mr. Taylor be a part of the Community Choir for many years, and for his dedication we honor his memory. Dr. Francis Ihejirika will serve as this year s keynote speaker.
Monday, January 20 29TH ANNUAL UNITY BREAKFAST 8:30 to 10:30 AM The Vineyard Church 1500 North Lincoln, Urbana The 2014 Martin Luther King, Jr. Advocacy for Justice Committee is proud to host the 29th Annual Unity Breakfast, held at The Vineyard Church. The MLK, Jr. Advocacy for Justice Committee, along with The Vineyard Church, welcomes community members to join in celebrating the birthday of America s preeminent advocate of nonviolence and one of the greatest nonviolent leaders in world history. DR. MLK, JR. DAY OF SERVICE 1:00 to 4:00 PM ARC, University of Illinois 201 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign This program gives volunteers an array of opportunities to give back to the community. Register to volunteer: http://go.illinois.edu/mlkday Contact: Brandon Common (common1@illinois.edu) DR. MLK, JR. YOUTH COMMEMORATION AND AFTERNOON OF SERVICE 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM Urbana Civic Center 108 E. Water Street, Urbana Join high-school youth for a celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The event includes performances, guided discussion, and afternoon on-site volunteer activities. Contact: Libby Tyler (ehtyler@urbanaillinois.us)
Tuesday, January 21 FREEDOM RIDERS 6:00 to 9:00 PM The Art Theater CO-OP 126 West Church Street, Champaign Co-sponsored by the University of Illinois Department of African American Studies, the award winning documentary, Freedom Riders, will be shown. The documentary covers the six-month period in 1961 where Black and White Americans risked their freedom in protest of Jim Crow laws in the Deep South. The film will be followed by a Q&A session and short discussion. Wednesday, January 22 INTERSECTION OF DIVERSITY: Civil Rights Discussion from Multiple Perspectives 3:00 to 4:00 PM Student Dining and Residential Programs Building, Room 2050 301 E. Gregory Drive, Champaign This panel brings together University of Illinois representatives to discuss the diverse voices and perspectives of Civil Rights issues. REALIZING THE DREAM 5:30 to 7:30 PM MP6 ARC 201 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign This event is aimed at engaging a wide array of stakeholders in a conversation about the diversity in social and economic class around campus. This program intends to help participants see the different economic circumstances under which students, staff, and faculty of the university live. Co-sponsored: CORE, OIIR, I-Promise Contact: Susan Gershenfeld (sgershen@illinois.edu)
Thursday, January 23 Friday, January 24 WHAT IS THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT? 5:00 to 7:00 PM Krannert Uncorked Krannert Center for the Performing Arts 500 South Goodwin, Urbana This event brings together two experts in the field of the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Sundiata Cha-Jua will take the audience on an historical journey; while Dr. Ollie Watts- Davis provides the musical experience of the Civil Rights Movement. POVERTY SIMULATION 1:00 to 3:00 PM School of Social Work 1010 West Nevada Street, Urbana Of all Dr. Martin Luther King s messages, one of his most prominent was the issue of poverty. The School of Social Work at Illinois will host a poverty simulation to help Urbana-Champaign, and the campus to better understand the issues, hurdles, and roadblocks that individuals living in poverty face. The simulation will provide an opportunity for participants to debrief their experiences and how they can begin to tackle the challenges of poverty in Champaign County. Contact: Christin Avgar (avgar1@illinois.edu)
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. COMMUNITY CELEBRATION 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM Krannert Center for the Performing Arts 500 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana Contact: Crystal Womble (cwomble@illinois.edu), and David Requa (drequa@illinois.edu) Saturday, January 25 This event marks the culmination of the week of events that surround Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr s legacy. The program will include performances by Maggie Brown, an expert in the history of African American music and various Illinois student organizations. Dr. Phyllis Wise, the Chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will present the winners of the MLK, Jr. Creative Expressions Contest. The event will have entertainment for all ages. For more information visit: www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu/mlk
Thank You To Our Sponsors THE DEPARTMENT OF LATINA/LATINO STUDIES