2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Week
Virginia Commonwealth University will host several events this week during the sixth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Week. Events began Sunday with a keynote address by Tyrone E. Nelson, pastor of Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church discussing access and opportunity in higher education.
MLK Day of Service
Jan. 21, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Evergreen Cemetery, 50 Evergreen Road
The historic cemetery is the final resting place for thousands of individuals, including notable Richmond leaders Maggie Walker and John Mitchell Jr. Volunteers will travel as a group to a restoration project and then return to campus for a free lunch and small-group reflections. Register online.
Candlelight vigil
Jan. 21, 6 p.m., The Depot, 814 W. Broad St.
This annual event — a silent vigil to commemorate King’s life — will include a march from The Depot to the front of James Branch Cabell Library. Hosted by the Theta Rho chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and the VCU Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, the event will include a performance by the Black Awakening Choir prior to and a speech to follow the march.
MLK Legacy Night
Jan. 22, 7-9 p.m., Rams Lounge, University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave.
Faculty, staff and students will enjoy music, spoken word and other creative performances that highlight and reflect on King’s legacy. Refreshments will be provided and a limited number of MLK Legacy Night t-shirts will be available.
Keynote speeches
Jan 20-25, various locations
“We hold these truths to be self-evident,” the first line of the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, is a statement King echoed many times in his written work, sermons and speeches, including in his “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” and his “I Have a Dream” speech. Local leaders will discuss this recurring theme in a series of keynote remarks:
Christy Coleman, CEO of the American Civil War Museum
Jan. 23, 4 p.m., Cabell Library, Lecture Hall Room 303, 901 Park Ave.
Jason Kamras, superintendent of Richmond Public Schools
Jan. 24, 2 p.m., Cabell Library, Lecture Hall Room 303, 901 Park Ave.
Rep. Donald McEachin
Jan. 25, 1 p.m. (doors open at 12:30 p.m.), Institute for Contemporary Art, 601 W. Broad St.
For more information including the topics of keynote addresses and registration links for each event, please visit the 2019 MLK Celebration website.
Categories Campus Events