University of Lynchburg to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WDBJ) - Every third Monday of January, the nation celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. The University of Lynchburg will participate in honoring Dr. King’s legacy with a series of events from January 20-23.

This year’s theme is “Still We Rise — The Dream, The Duty, and The Divine Legacy.” The MLK events are free and open to the public.

It kicks off Tuesday, January 20, at 6 p.m. with a virtual panel discussion called “One Table, Many Voices,” focusing on King’s “legacy and his commitment to civic renewal by campaigning to build justice, pluralism, inclusion, and belonging.”

Robert Canida, Chief Inclusive Excellence Officer at the University of Lynchburg, said these events bring together a diverse group of people from the Lynchburg community every year.

“The University of Lynchburg is Lynchburg’s community, and so it’s very important for us to open our arms and open our doors to our community. So, it’s very important that we provide opportunities for our community to learn about people such as Dr. King, the impact that he had on Lynchburg, because he was here in the 1960s. Most of all, they need to know their history because if you don’t know your history, you’re doomed to repeat it,” said Canida.

MLK events series:

Jan. 20: Virtual panel discussion, “One Table, Many Voices.” The dialogue will focus on King’s legacy and his commitment to civic renewal by campaigning to build justice, pluralism, inclusion, and belonging.”

Jan. 21: “Let Freedom Speak,” a program of Martin Luther King Jr. readings and recitations, will be held in the Drysdale Student Center’s West Room. The event will feature Petrina “Trin-A-Thoughtz” Bryant, a North Carolina-based spoken word artist, along with students, faculty, staff, and members of the greater community.

Jan. 22: A “Courageous Conversation” at 6:30 pm. The virtual event will featureDr. Chris Burton, a minister, teacher, writer, and promotional speaker who podcasts as “Di Baddest Chaplain.”

Jan. 23: Unity March at 4 pm. The walk begins at Snidow Chapel and ends at Drysdale Student Center’s West Room, where Desmond Mosby, a community organizer and activist, will give a keynote address.

For more information, visit www.lynchburg.edu/university-celebrates-dr-martin-luther-king-jr-s-legacy-with-series-of-events-jan-20-23/