| MLK Commemorative Symposium on Social Change |
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The University of Pennsylvania’s Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Symposium on Social Change begins today, Tuesday, January 15 (Dr. King’s actual birthday) with a noontime discussion at the Christian Association featuring Todd Bernstein, founder and director of the Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, January 16, Penn’s Center for Africana Studies and the Office of the President will present the 12th Annual Lecture in Social Justice featuring Penn grad, nine-time Grammy Award winner and philanthropist John Legend, C’99, in conversation with Dr. Camille Z. Charles at 5:30 p.m. in Irvine Auditorium. The event is free, but tickets are required; they are available at Annenberg Center’s Box Office.
The centerpiece of the MLK Symposium is the Day of Service on Monday, January 21; this marks the 17th year for Penn’s Day of Service activities, beginning with a breakfast for volunteers at 8:30 a.m. in Houston Hall. The Houston Hall volunteer activities include: recording children’s books on tape, children’s banner painting, and assembling helping hands supplies for people experiencing homelessness. Other participants will also be involved with a variety of community beautification service projects in the West Philadelphia area until 2 p.m.; transportation will be provided.
Other featured programs include: the Signature Program on January 22 with Dr. Deborah Thomas of Africana Studies and a viewing of her film, Bad Friday (a collaborative project done with her husband Dr. John Jackson).
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Interfaith Program and Awards Commemoration will be on Thursday, January 24, from 6 to 9 p.m. in Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall. It will include poetry and musical performances by The African Rhythms, New Spirit of Penn and the Shabbatones. The guest speakers will be Sonia Sanchez, activist, poet, playwright, professor and leader of the black studies movement, and Bakari Kitwana, author, activist, political analyst and founder of Rap Sessions. The MLK Community Service Awards will be presented.
On January 29, the Netter Center for Community Partnerships will present a program What Colleges and Universities Can Do to Combat Violence in Urban Communities.
The School of Social Policy & Practice will present Let’s Talk about Race with Dr. Howard Stevenson on January 30. The performance art programs Jazz for King will be at the Annenberg Public Policy Center on January 25 and Performance Art for Social Change will be at the Tabernacle United Church on February 1.
For the complete list of MLK Symposium events, see www.upenn.edu/aarc/mlk/calendar_mlk.htm |
