January 25, 2011

Citizenship Today: Reflections on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy

A Time to Break the Silence: MLK on Vietnam

9:30 – 10:45 a.m., Quigley Auditorium — Kazi Joshua & Dr. Lawrence Potter

A close reading of King’s speech at Riverside Church in New York City. An exploration of its contemporary relevance in the post 9/11 period. What do the “evils” of militarism, racism, and exploitation have to do with each other and what are the current strategies for peace making?

Pistols and Prayers

11:00 – Noon, Quigley Auditorium — Special Guest Ise Lyfe

“Pistols and Prayers” is a powerful poetic collage of sociopolitical commentary, blended with a glimpse into his coming of age as a man, artist, and advocate for social change. A thought provoking theater performance piece, “Pistols and Prayers” celebrates the African Diaspora while simultaneously exploring the impact and contributions this vast body has on the American and Urban American experience.

Keynote Address and Luncheon

12:30 – 1:25 p.m., Tillotson Room — Dr. Armendia Dixon

The Meadville Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Corporation is a gift for our community to consider. The unwrapping of the gift will be seen as the speaker takes the audience on a journey that involves the creation of the corporation and a glimpse of the stewards who kept the gift alive. The fruits of the gift will be described as the corporation evolved to include community voices and the bringing about of the MLK Mentoring Program, a grand collaborative effort. The presentation will be fanned by stories and examples of communities acting in and through the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to being about positive social change. The gift becomes an invitation to participate in a citizenship that can be lived in the life and lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Exploring Discrimination Through Non-Verbal Creative Movement

1:30 – 2:45 p.m., Montgomery — Brittany Johnson and Carlos Lopez

Despite reforms and social change since the era of Civil Rights, prejudice and discrimination remain aspects of daily life for many people. Participants in this workshop will explore chance occurrences of being “left out” or “rejected” as well as “following the crowd” and communicating nonverbally through creative movement activities. Reflection and discussion will follow the participatory games to process the simulations of being a victim or perpetrator of discrimination.

Environmental Racism: From Cradle to Grave

3:00 – 4:15 p.m., Quigley 219 — CEED (Center for Economic and Environmental Development)

People of color are exposed to a hostile and unsafe environment of toxins, industrial waste, hazardous substances and pollutants in the U.S. as well as other countries. This session with make the connection between the over-use of resources in contemporary American culture and waste disposal as an issue of discrimination.

Walk a Mile in My Shoes

3:00 – 4:15 p.m., Quigley 215 — Kirsten Peterson and ACCEL Leadership Team

The best way to understand another person is to experience their life. Although that is nearly impossible it is possible to get to know a person different from oneself and learn about how they experience the world. This session would pair students and through a series of questions and guided discussion, ask them to try to understand each other’s perspectives on the world.

Diasporas and Dreams – Opening Reception

7 – 9 p.m., Art Galleries

The five artists invited to be a part of this show invite us to examine the personal and political dimensions of human displacement, including in diasporas. Curated by Dr. Jacqueline Gehring, Dr. Shanna Kirschner and Darren Miller.

Ise Lyfe Spoken Word Performance

8 p.m., Art Galleries

Come hear the powerful message of today’s symposium brought to life through this energetic and inspiring performance.