Reflections of a Dream: UC Pays Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the University of Cincinnati community will pay tribute to the legacy of the civil rights leader through a number of tributes, discussions and more:

TUESDAY, JAN. 12

"Continuing the Legacy: A Call To Action"

pays tribute to the memory of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and will also recognize the 60th anniversary of the historic Rosa Parks bus boycott. The event is sponsored by the African American Cultural and Resource Center (AACRC) and is free and open to the public:

• Noon, Great Hall (4th floor) Tangeman University Center (TUC) - A light reception will follow the program.
  

The keynote speaker is Dr. Karen Bankston, associate dean of Clinical Partnership, Practice and Community Engagement at University of Cincinnati and president/CEO at KDB and Associates Consulting Services, LLC.

Co-sponsors of the tribute event are the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH); the Office of Student Activities and Leadership Development (SALD); the Office of Ethnic Programs and Services; and the LGBTQ Center.

For more information, contact Eric Watford, MLK Coordinator at (513) 556-1175 or email eric.watford@uc.edu.

THURSDAY, JAN. 14

UC Blue Ash College’s Robert Gioielli, assistant professor of history, will hold a round-table discussion concerning

Racism and Xenophobia

. The discussion will include faculty from English, history, geography and philosophy offering  perspectives on racism, Islamophobia and xenophobia in the context of current debates on college campuses in the United States, including the University of Cincinnati.

• 12:30 p.m. in 355 Muntz Hall on UC Blue Ash campus

For more information, call Ornaith O’Dowd at

odowdoh@ucmail.uc.edu

or 513-745-5645.

SATURDAY, JAN. 16

The Martin Luther King Jr. luncheon

will be held in UC’s Russell C. Myers Alumni Center. Attire is business casual. Event is held:

• 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. luncheon

18th Annual Red, Black, Green & Gold Ball

, will be held Saturday, Jan. 16, in the Great Hall (4th floor) of Tangeman University Center (TUC). Attire is semi formal or African garb. Event is held:

• 6:30-7:30 p.m. dinner, music and dancing to follow

Sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – Alpha Alpha Chapter.

MONDAY, JAN. 18

“Justice, Freedom, Equality: We Can’t Wait,”

sponsored by the MLK Coalition’s 41st annual celebration of the holiday in Cincinnati, dedicated to keeping King’s legacy vibrant in our community. “Almost a year ago, we invoked parallels to the civil rights movement, and the Black Lives Matter movement. Almost a year later, as protest persists, it's important we urge our community to employ MLK’s legacy in a manner that promotes racial justice and equity beyond one day.” The theme is #MLKWeCantWait” and the day is filled with opportunities for participation, commemoration and celebration which are detailed below:

• 8 a.m. (tickets required, call 513-333-7706) King Legacy Awards Breakfast at NUR Freedom Center

      Events Free & Open to the Public:

• 10 a.m., Annual Commemorative March begins at the Freedom Center
• 11 a.m., Interfaith Prayer service at Fountain Square followed by March to Music Hall
• Noon, Music Hall, MLK Commemorative Celebration, including the award-winning MLK Chorale and spoken word performers from NKU.
  

For more information visit

www.mlkcoalition.org

or contact Keeyana Averyl at Keeyana@agencysevenpr.com.

ABOUT THE HOLIDAY

This year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be held on Monday, Jan. 18. UC offices will be closed in observance of the holiday.

Legislation creating Martin Luther King Jr. Day was passed in 1983 in honor of the late civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner. The federal holiday was first observed in 1986. It is annually held on the third Monday of January to be near King's birthday, Jan. 15.

King was born in 1929 in Atlanta. He was 39 when he was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn. King would have turned 87 this year.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AT UC

The University of Cincinnati embraces diversity and inclusion as core values that empower individuals to transform their lives and achieve their highest potential. Find out

more about UC's commitment to diversity

online.

*If your organization is hosting an MLK Day event that you wish to add to this schedule, please contact

titanimk@ucmail.uc.edu

.