Events Planned to Celebrate and Remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at University of Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas and Fayetteville communities will celebrate the life, work and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the annual "Days of Recommitment." Two weeks of events are scheduled around the national Martin Luther King holiday, Monday, Jan. 21. The events, planned on the theme "Living the Dream in the 21^st Century: Where do You Stand?" were organized by the University of Arkansas MLK Committee and the Northwest Arkansas MLK Planning Committee.

The events begin Tuesday, Jan. 15, with a lecture by Calvin White, Jr., assistant professor of history in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. White will speak on "Your Place in the Dream." The lecture will begin at 5 p.m. in Giffels Auditorium, with a reception following the lecture.

Saturday, Jan. 19, a community service project will be held at St. James Baptist Church, in Fayetteville. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. will sponsor the project and a variety of fraternities, sororities, student organizations and members of the northwest Arkansas community will take part. At 7 p.m. that evening, a "Service of Praise and Reflection" will be held at The Dwelling Place, 1855 Porter Rd. The event is designed to promote harmony within the Northwest Arkansas community and will be hosted by the Northwest Arkansas MLK Planning Committee.

A memorial service will be held for Dr. King at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, at the St. James Baptist Church in Fayetteville. The featured speaker will be the Rev. Sam Holmes, Jr., from Tulsa.  

Events on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 21, begin at 8 a.m. with a Youth Prayer Breakfast at Bordino's restaurant. The purpose of this event is to allow young people to come together in prayer and reflect on ways they are living to fulfill King's dream.  Following the breakfast the young people will be taken to the University of Arkansas Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building for activities such as basketball, volleyball and racquetball.

The city of Fayetteville will present a city award program to honor a city employee who carries on the spirit and legacy of King. The ceremony will be held at 11:15 a.m. in the Walton Arts Center parking lot. The annual MLK March will immediately follow the city ceremony. This will be followed by a march from the parking lot to the Campus Connections Lounge at the University of Arkansas Union, where a noon vigil will be held in remembrance of King. The vigil is sponsored by the university's Black Students Association and the Associated Student Government.

In the event of bad weather, the city ceremony and MLK March will also be held in the Campus Connections Lounge.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day events will conclude with the 12^th Annual Recommitment Banquet at 7 p.m. in the Fayetteville Town Center. The featured speaker will be Roderick McDavis, president of Ohio University, and former dean of the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas. In addition, the MLK Scholarships will be awarded and individuals from the northwest Arkansas community will be honored for outstanding community service. (Note: tickets for the banquet must be purchased by January 11.)

On Thursday, Jan. 29, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. M. Joycelyn Elders will deliver a lecture entitled "MLK: Drum Major for Social Change". The lecture will begin at 5 p.m. in the University of Arkansas Union Theatre. A reception will be held in the Multicultural Center following the lecture.

All these events are open to the public and all are free except the Recommitment Banquet.  A full schedule of events is listed below:

University Lecture
5 p.m.
Giffels Auditorium in Old Main
Calvin White, Jr., assistant professor of history, University of Arkansas, will lecture on "Your Place in the Dream."
A reception will follow the lecture
Sponsored by the University of Arkansas MLK Committee

Saturday, Jan. 19

Community Service Project
9 a.m.
St. James Baptist Church, 115 South Willow St., Fayetteville
Sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Other participants will include a variety of fraternities, sororities, student organizations and members of the northwest Arkansas community. This group will perform odd jobs for the elderly in the community.

Service of Praise and Reflection
7 p.m.
Location: The Dwelling Place, 1855 Porter Road, Fayetteville
Sponsored by NWA MLK Planning Committee
This program will highlight several leaders in the community who will reflect on experiences during the time in which King was actively involved in the civil rights movement. Also, this program will feature area choirs and choral groups. 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Service
3 p.m. St. James Baptist Church, 115 S. Willow St., Fayetteville
Speaker: Rev. Sam Holmes, Jr. of Tulsa
Sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. & NWA MLK Planning Committee

MLK March/City Awards Program
11:15 a.m.
Walton Arts Center Parking Lot, Fayetteville
Sponsored by NWA MLK Planning Committee and the city of Fayetteville
The city of Fayetteville will honor a city employee who exhibits the spirit and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
Following this ceremony the march will start at the Walton Arts Center parking lot and follow a designated path to the Arkansas Union at the University of Arkansas.
In the event of inclement weather this event will be held at the Campus Connections Lounge in the University of Arkansas Union.

Vigil
Noon
Campus Connections Lounge, University of Arkansas
Sponsored by UA Black Students Association & Associated Student Government

BLSA Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance
Noon
University of Arkansas Law School Atrium
Sponsored by the University of Arkansas Law School

University Lecture
5 p.m.
University of Arkansas Union Theatre
Dr. M. Joycelyn Elders speaking on "MLK: Drum Major for Social Change"
A reception will follow at the Multicultural Center
Sponsored by the University of Arkansas MLK Committee

"Ain't I a Woman"
7 p.m.
Giffels Auditorium in Old Main
Performed by Margot Emery, from the Choir Ensemble
Sponsored by the University of Arkansas African American Studies department, the University of Arkansas Multicultural Center and University Housing

Related Events

Jan. 10 to Feb. 8

Vision of Blues Icons
Paintings by Memphis artist George Hunt
University of Arkansas Mullins Library, lobby level
Sponsored by University Libraries & UA MLK Committee
A "Walkin' Talkin' Gallery Tour" will be held at 10 a.m. and at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8 Sponsored by the University of Arkansas Mullins Library

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Danielle Wood, AA/EEO employment manager
Office of Affirmative Action
(479) 575-4825, dlw11@uark.edu

Cedric Kenner, director
Multicultural Center
(479) 575-2064, ckenner@uark.edu