Alma College Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Week 2007
The power of Martin Luther King’s legacy is that it is remarkably
inclusive, says Laura von Wallmenich, head of the Martin Luther King
Jr. Celebration Week Task Force at Alma College.
“One central part of how Alma College approaches the observance of Dr.
King’s birthday is to create opportunities to honor many different
themes that are relevant to Dr. King’s legacy, including community
service, social justice, diversity, faith and the heroic struggle of
African Americans on the long journey to freedom and equality,” says
von Wallmenich, a member of the Alma English faculty.
Alma’s King commemoration from Friday, Jan. 12 through Saturday, Jan.
20 emphasizes the importance of social justice, an ideal based on
“building and maintaining a society that honors the principles of human
rights and social equality,” explains von Wallmenich.
A variety of events are scheduled at Alma, including a keynote address
by author Robert Bullard, director of the Environmental Justice
Research Center, at 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15 at the Remick Heritage
Center, Presbyterian Hall. The complete list of events and activities
follows. All events are free and open to the public.
Jan. 12/”Pay it Forward: The Giving Game” begins with a film
presentation of “Pay it Forward” at 8 p.m. Jan. 12 in the Dunning
Memorial Chapel. After the movie, 100 “giving” cards will be passed out
and registered online. When cardholders perform a kind act, they pass
on their card, encouraging the new cardholder to share kindness and the
card with another. Each card transfer will be recorded online so that
all witness the ways care and compassion touch numerous lives.
“Although each act of kindness is small, the combined effect, we hope,
is one that can be felt across the campus and remind us all that this
holiday is not only about the past; it is about our role in deciding
what sort of society we are today and will be tomorrow,” says von
Wallmenich.
Jan. 14/Artheillia Thompson, an ordained elder of Westminster
Presbyterian Church in Detroit, leads a worship service at 7 p.m. Jan.
14 in the Dunning Memorial Chapel to commemorate Dr. King.
Thompson serves as the Hunger Action Coordinator for the Detroit
Presbytery and staffs the Hunger Ministries Support Team. The service
is open to people of all religious backgrounds.
Jan. 15/Alma College students, faculty and staff participate in
mock street activism scenarios at campus locations throughout the day.
More than 30 student performers will re-enact scenes of civil
disobedience from the Civil Rights struggle. The Multicultural Black
Student Union in collaboration with Von Wallmenich, history professor
Jamie Smith, and communications and women’s studies professor Joanne
Gilbert will organize the scenarios.
Jan. 15/A panel discussion on “Finding Environmental Justice in
a Dirty World” takes place at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 15 in the Alma College
Remick Heritage Center, Presbyterian Hall. The panel will include
Robert Bullard, director of the Environmental Justice Research Center,
and a panel of local and regional experts. Discussion will focus on
environmental issues.
Jan. 15/Keynote speaker Robert Bullard, a nationally renowned
activist for environmental justice, presents “Reflections on the Life
and Times of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.” at 8 p.m. Jan. 15 at
Remick Heritage Center, Presbyterian Hall. Bullard is director of the
Environmental Justice Research Center, professor of sociology at Clark
Atlanta University, and author of the book Dumping in Dixie: Race, Class and Environmental Quality.
Leading the battle for environmental justice, from dealing with the
toxic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to curbing urban sprawl, Bullard
tells the stories of frontline warriors who are fighting environmental
and human rights abuses. His research and activism challenges
government and industry policies that place people of color and the
poor at special risk.
Jan. 16/The film “The Color of Fear” is shown from 2:30 to 6
p.m. Jan. 16 in the Smith Room of the Alma College Library. The film
about the state of race relations in America expresses the viewpoint of
eight culturally diverse men who reveal the pain that racism causes and
emphasizes the importance of interracial understanding, acceptance and
trust. A facilitated discussion will follow.
Jan. 16/The second annual Alma College Martin Luther King Jr.
Poetry Slam features an open microphone and audience participation by
faculty and students reading original and published poetry at 7 p.m.
Jan. 16 in the Clack Art Center Auditorium.
Jan. 17/The ”Like Water: African Drumming and Dance Workshop” at
3 p.m. Jan. 17 in Jones Auditorium allows participants to physically
appreciate a diverse cultural art. The hands-on class focuses on
introducing participants to the drums and dancing styles of West
Africa. Members of the Like Water Drum and Dance performance ensemble
will lead the workshop.
Jan. 17/Teach for America Recruitment Director Jon Gleicher is
available to meet with students throughout the day on Jan. 17, with an
open forum to take place at 7 p.m. in Swanson Academic Center Room 113.
Teach for America provides college graduates opportunities to create
change in education reform.
Jan. 18/Alma College Service Learning classes sponsor a blood
drive from 11:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 18 in the Stone Recreation Center
at Alma College. Call (989) 463-7971 to register and volunteer.
Jan. 18/Students present their reflections on Dr. King’s message
at 7 p.m. Jan. 18 in Dow Science Center L-1. The reflections, a
response to a student competition to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King,
will be judged, with cash prizes awarded to three presenters.
Jan. 20/The Alma College Non-traditional Student Organization
sponsors the Area 7 Special Olympics Basketball tournament Jan. 20 at
the Stone Recreation Center. Volunteers and spectators are welcome.
Posted: Fri, January 5th, 2007 at 10:38AM
