Elizabethtown College memorializes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in weeklong celebration

ELIZABETHTOWN, PA (01/10/2015)(readMedia)-- As a part of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Week, taking place Jan. 19 through 23, Elizabethtown College hosts Ann Marie Kirk, director of Art for Justice, as she speaks about prison art and the partnership exhibit taking place at the College and Philadelphia Free Library.

Her talk, "Promoting Justice & Humanity thru Art," is at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, in the College's Brinser Lecture Room in Steinman Center.

The exhibit of prisoner art, which aims to stimulate public dialogue on how to prevent crime, reduce levels of incarceration and find effective, humane ways to improve the criminal justice system, is on display beginning Monday, Jan. 19, in the second-floor hallway of the College's Brossman Commons. The exhibit reception is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23.

Additional tributes to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement in which he was so instrumental, take place throughout the week. All are free.

At 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19, Dr. Michael G. Long, associate professor of religious studies and peace and conflict studies at Elizabethtown opens the weeklong tribute with "King's Hero: Jackie Robinson and His Quest for First-Class Citizenship." The talk, taking place in the College's KAV, centers on Robinson, whom Martin Luther King, Jr. considered one of his heroes.

At 2:30 p.m. Monday, members of the college community each have 10 minutes to read a quote about Martin Luther King Jr., provide the historical context for the quote and discuss King's significance in contemporary America. "Six Voices Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. in Sixty Minutes" takes place on the second floor of High Library.

In the evening, take part in the "I Have Dream" Candlelight March, which begins in the Blue Bean Cafe, Brossman Commons, at 6:15 p.m. Participants meet in the Blue Bean to read Dr. King's "I have a Dream" speech and then walk to Leffler Chapel and Performance center while singing gospel and spiritual songs.

Immediately following at 7 p.m. is the MLK Gospel Extravaganza in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center. Choirs, musicians, soloists, dancers and other artists perform. The Extravaganza also features performances by Elizabethtown Concert Choir and Dolce, Elizabethtown College's all-female a capella group, under the direction of Dr. Matthew P. Fritz.

At 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, the College hosts an Interfaith Prayer Service in the Tower Room of Brossman Commons. Prayers from various religious faiths that influenced the work of Dr. King, will be offered. The service is led by Rev. Amy Shorner-Johnson.

At 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, Dr. Jill McCorkel speaks on "From Good Girls to 'Real' Criminals: Dissecting the Market Logic and Racial Politics of Incarcerating Women." Her lecture takes place in Gibble Auditorium.

Later that evening, during the Soul Café, share in food and music from E-town students, and thoughtful questions to stir the soul. The unique event is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. in the Blue Bean in Brossman Commons.

Andy Hoover, legislative director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania leads a panel discussion about the historical context and current issues surrounding voter suppression in minority communities during political elections. "Voter Suppression and Civil Rights" takes place at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, in Hoover 110. He will explore factors that continue to unfold decades after to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed and the significance of addressing these challenges locally and nationally today.

Respondents for the discussion are: Dr. John Rohrkemper, associate professor of English; Dr. Fletcher McClellan, Dean of Faculty; and Jean-Paul Benowitz, director of student transitional programs and assistant director of Academic Advising. The moderator is Brandon Jackson, coordinator of multicultural programs and residential communities.

The week's events commence at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, with guest poets Ann Marie Kirk; Nichole Acosta, from the E.P.I.C. Collective in New York City; and Theresa "Ms. Reign" Taylor, of Miss Reign Productions, also in NYC. They will speak on "Culture Shock" as students and staff members share reflections on the week.

Contact: Brandon Jackson at jacksonbj@etown.edu

Read about additional events at Elizabethtown College.

Elizabethtown College, located in historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is a private coed institution offering more than four dozen liberal arts, fine and performing arts, science and engineering, business, communications and education degrees. Learn more: http://www.etown.edu/about/

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