MLK Celebration 2013

23rd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebratory Events

"Are You Making Your Mark?"

The 23rd Annual MLK Celebration featuring Rob Dixon, UNH Alum, founder of Boston area Project RISE and nationally recognized youth advocate.

Everybody can be great . . . because anybody can serve.

--- Excerpted from "The Drum Major Instinct", a sermon by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1968.

Schedule of Events

MLK Spiritual Celebration: Rise Up Into Communities of Justice and Compassion

Durham Community Church

Sunday, January 27
4:00-5:30pm
Durham Community Church, Main Street, Durham

Join the UNH and Durham communities in an inter-faith and multi-faith spiritual celebration that supports and highlights the spiritual foundation that Martin Luther King Jr. brought to his life and works. Featuring songs, drumming, music, poetry, and special readings, the community remembers The Rev. Dr King. Reception to follow. Music will be provided by AKSARA (Syllable of Sound), a six woman cappella ensemble. Their music is designed to uplift and delight the soul; music through which one can relax, dream and be at peace. All are welcomed to this moving and joyous evening!

MLK Forum: Public and Private Schools:What's Working . . .What's Not

Wednesday, January 30, 4:00 – 5:30 PM

Memorial Union Building, Strafford Room

Commemorative speaker Rob Dixon and visiting professor Winston Thompson join community leaders to ask what freedoms and responsibilities serve us best as we strive toward the building of MLK's beloved community. What do we need to know about education underserving some of us? How are some initiatives working? How are other, well-intentioned programs not achieving their goals? What are the personal impacts of poorly performing schools? How are after-school programs working? How do we continue to build community in our educational institutions?

Winston Thompson UNH Professor Winston C. Thompson works in philosophy of education with an emphasis on topics of ethics and social/political philosophy. His research on educational equity and fairness focuses upon the demands of justice in liberal contexts. His recent work is in underlying ethical issues relevant to policy discussions around higher educational access in the United States. Thompson has presented and published his work internationally and taught at Hofstra University, New York University, and Teachers College, Columbia University.

Rob Dixon with student

MLK Commemorative Address : Are You Making Your Mark?

Tuesday, January 29, 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Johnson Theatre, Paul Creative Arts Center

Rob Dixon will speak about his transformative work in Boston and how he believes everyone can carry out the legacy of Dr. King. Dixon, a record-setting UNH basketball player and former professional athlete, became an educator and community activist following his graduation from UNH in 1983. He organized the Boston area establishment of the non-profit Project RISE (Respect, Integrity, and Success through Education), which has the impressive record of a 96% high school graduation rate. His program asks students to focus on their life experiences and to consider how they may be leaders in a world of challenging realities. A nationally recognized youth advocate, Dixon was named an “All-Star Among Us” by People magazine for his commitment to bettering the lives of children. Presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton, GHW Bush, and Carter celebrated Dixon’s work at the 2009 MLB All-Star Game.

Read a feature article about Rob from the UNH Magazine. (click here)

Meet UNH Senior, Noha Elmohands, MLK Student host for this event

	Call to Action, Noha Elmohands

Listen to Noha's poem reading Poem Link

Divine Hall, student-created diversity mural

Taking Action: Change as a Calling - UNH Inspires

A Campus Activism Fair
Tuesday, February 5
12:45-2:00pm
MUB, Strafford Room

PUTTING YOUR COMMITMENTS INTO PRACTICE: WHAT CALLS YOU TO CREATE CHANGE?

Hear UNH students talk about their favorite service orgs and how they got involved. Join UNH's outstanding social justice activists in roundtable discussions on how the work sustains them as individuals and their surrounding communities.

This student-centered conversation will feature local service opportunities that can build both professional and personal skills. Come see how your life and career paths can change when you do life-changing work with others!

MLK Events Sponsored By:

Admissions, Affirmative Action & Equity Office, Center For Academic Resources, College of Liberal Arts, Community Church of Durham, Counseling Center, Discovery Program, Diversity Support Coalition, Health Services, Inclusive Excellence Initiatives, Memorial Union Building, Office of Multicultural Student Association (OMSA), Office of the President, President's Commissions, Provost Office, Residential Life, University Programs and Events, UNH Police Department, UNH Chaplain's Association, United Campus Ministry to UNH, Waysmeet

All events are wheelchair-accessible.
For more information: TTY users: call NH Relay 7-1-1 or 1-800-735-2964.

Inclusive Excellence