This year DU’s “2007 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebrations” has been expanded to include multiple events held over the entire weekend. The theme for this year is “History, Education Action: Care-ing the Dream.”
“Past years have had very little celebrations of Dr. King. This year it is a highly publicized with multiple events,” said Tracy Peters, assistant to the associate provost for Campus Life who is co-chairing the event. “I was approached this summer to chair the event. My vision was a more aggressive approach.”
The celebrations begin today with two events. The first is Reach for ‘The Dream:'” Sharing Social Justice Research, Driscoll 11:30-1:30 p.m. and “Care-ing the Dream from a Legal and Social Justice Perspective, panel discussion led by Dean Beto Juarez, DU Law School Forum area noon-2 p.m. They are free and open to the public.
On Friday will be the main event, a free luncheon with a panel of three community leaders. The panel includes Kinette Richards, a DU alumna who now works in the community as a school psychiatrist in the Cherry Creek school district. She has worked on equity for students of color for past the 10 years in both school and mental health settings.
The second panelist is Brother Jeff Fard has done a great deal of work to reduce the disproportionate AIDS rate in the African American community.B He established the Brother Jeff Health Initiative, produces a yearly resource guide and is founder of the Brother Jeff Cultural Center and CafCB).
The third panelist is U.S. Judge Craig Shaffer. He worked with the FBI to investigate and resolve the bombing of the Southern Poverty Law Center in Alabama and prosecuted the Klu Klux Klan in Alabama.
Peters hopes that at least 150 students attend the events the luncheon and panel.
“I think that we are still benefiting, especially students in this age from the work of Dr. King and we shouldn’t forget,” said Peters.
There are over 15 organizations including students and university departments sponsoring and involved in the planning of the event.
Ultimately, Peters hopes that event becomes something that the community of Denver comes to expect every year and attend a MLK Jr. week.
The event is also being chaired by Tony Daniels associate athletic director, Diversity and Community Relations.
And students are encouraged to join the city wide Marade on Monday starting at 8:30 a.m. at City Park. If students are looking for a ride please contact engage@du.edu
To RSVP for the lunch please contact tpeters2@du.edu.
