Athens, Ga. – For the King Celebration, the annual observance of the life of Martin Luther King Jr., UGA’s Office of Institutional Diversity is sponsoring a series of events designed to honor the late civil rights leader and continue his legacy.
This year’s theme is “Connecting Lives Through Unity: The Power of the Dream.” It reflects the bond between the university and the Athens community, said Joan Pittman, program coordinator in the Office of Institutional Diversity.
“We chose (the theme) to explain everything about what we’re doing. We’re trying to bridge community with UGA campus, to collaborate to gain diversity on the campus and throughout the community. The campus is right here in the back yard of the city and the people in the city aren’t always familiar with the campus,” she said.
Keeping with the theme, the events are distributed across campus and the community. Events involving King Celebration run throughout January and include the following:
Jan. 12: The Freedom Breakfast and the presentation of the President’s 2007 Fulfilling the Dream Award take place at 7:30 a.m. in Georgia Hall of the Tate Student Center. The featured speaker is Evelyn Lowery, civil rights leader. Tickets cost $15. For more information, call 706/583-8195.
A screening of Citizen King starts at 2 p.m. in Memorial Hall.
Jan. 13: Athens Area Human Relations Banquet starts at 7 p.m. at the Classic Center. Tickets cost $25. For more information, contact Hattie Lawson at 706/207-9010 or lawsonh@clarke.k12.ga.us.
Jan.15: Kickoff for Martin Luther King Day of Service begins at 9 a.m. at Athens Area Council on Aging. A light breakfast will be served.
Volunteer activities run from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Council on Aging, Gaines School Elementary, Brooklyn Cemetery, Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery and Spalding Cemetery.
The Martin Luther King Day Celebration starts at 1 p.m. at Lyndon House Arts Center. It includes entertainment, speeches, educational activities and arts and crafts. A light lunch will be provided. For more information, call 706/613-3155.
Jan 16: A panel discussion on Dr. King and Mahatma Ghandi by Derrick Alridge, an associate professor in the College of Education, begins at noon in Memorial Hall’s Adinkra Hall. Refreshments will be provided.
A screening of Brother Outsider, the story of Bayard Rustin, runs at 7:30 p.m. at Tate Theater. Refreshments will be provided.
Jan. 17: An informative presentation from the Civil Rights Digital Library begins at noon in Room 368 of the Student Learning Center.
An interfaith service starts at 7 p.m. in the Tate Student Center’s Reception Hall.
A screening of Four Little Girls is set for 8 p.m. in Room 102 of the Student Learning Center.
Jan. 18: A screening of Place of Rage or Home of the Brave begins at noon in Memorial Hall’s Adinkra Hall.
Gospelfest, a free showcase of various community choir singers, begins at 7 p.m. in the Morton Theatre downtown.
Jan. 19: The African Student Union hosts the international coffee hour and a presentation titled “Mandela/MLK” from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. in the Memorial Hall Ballroom.
Jan. 20: The Black Affairs Council Unity Ball at the Tate Student Center’s Georgia Hall starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 for singles and $8 for couples. Dress is formal.
Jan. 21: A community church service starts at 11 a.m. at Chestnut Grove Baptist Church at 610 Epps Bridge Parkway.
Jan. 26: The Indian Student Union hosts the international coffee hour and a presentation titled “Ghandi/MLK” from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in the Memorial Hall Ballroom.