Western Carolina University will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a week of service, essays, art, a movie discussion, a theatrical performance, poetry, musical tributes and a guest speaker beginning Monday, Jan. 19. “The celebration’s theme ‘Dream Fulfilled?!…A Day to Dream, A Lifetime to Act’ challenges our campus community to have open dialogue about whether or not Dr. King’s dream has or has not been fulfilled and what we will do during our lifetime to act on his principles of nonviolence, social change, forgiveness and reconciliation,” said Tanisha Jenkins, director of multicultural affairs at WCU. Julianne Malveaux, president of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro and a civic leader, will keynote the celebration as part of a program sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, in the Grandroom of A.K. Hinds University Center. Malveaux’s articles and columns regularly appear in USA Today, Black Issues in Higher Education, Ms. Magazine, Essence and The Progressive. Her publications include “Unfinished Business: A Democrat and A Republican Take on the 10 Most Important Issues Women Face,” which she co-authored. The speech is free and open to the public. Community members also are invited to participate in activities including a school supply and book drive taking place in Cullowhee, Sylva and Dillsboro through Saturday, Jan. 24, that will benefit Jackson County schools and Friends of the Library in Sylva; and youth art and essay contests open to Jackson, Macon, Swain or Haywood county residents. Entries are due Tuesday, Jan. 13. In addition, community members are invited to join WCU students, faculty and staff at campus events: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19 – Day of service. Assist Mountain Trace Nursing Center, Mountain Projects community agency or Project FIRE, which provides firewood for elderly residents in rural communities.
7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19 – Movie and discussion. Screening of “Brother Outsider,” movie about gay African-American activist Bayard Rustin. Theater, University Center. 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20 – Discussion. “Dream Realized?!… A Discussion with a Purpose.” Multipurpose Room, University Center. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21 – Chancellor’s guest speaker Julianne Malveaux. “A Celebration of Dreams.” Grandroom, University Center. 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22 – Presentation of artwork and essays, and Black Theatre Ensemble performance of “The Meeting.” Theater, University Center. 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23 – Guest poet and pictorial and musical presentations. “An Evening of Spoken Dreams.” Club Illusions, University Center. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24 – Day of service. WCU students join other Western North Carolina college students to help youth-focused agencies. For more information about the events or art and essay contests, check out http://www.wcu.edu/12055.asp or call the Office of Multicultural Affairs at (828) 227-2276. For information about service events, call Katie Graunke, program coordinator for the Center of Service Learning, at (828) 227-2592.
