Fairfield University’s Martin Luther King, Jr. observance to feature series of campus-wide events for area children | Press Releases

Fairfield University student, faculty, and staff-led events designed to inspire all to continue the work of Dr. King. K-8 students from Fairfield, Bridgeport invited to attend.

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (January 23, 2015) – Fairfield University’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance the week of January 26, 2015 will feature a series of campus-wide events for children designed to invigorate the spirit and inspire all to continue on with the important work reflected in the words, writings and actions of Dr. King. K-8 students from Bridgeport, Fairfield and nearby communities plan to take part.
Media is invited to attend the events.

On Thursday, January 29 at 4 p.m. at the RecPlex, in a “ Day of Service ,” Fairfield University student-athletes will host 60 middle-school students from Bridgeport schools, followed by activities with the University student groups Performing for Change and Common Ground. The visiting students will then have dinner on campus and attend the Stags women’s basketball game that evening.

On Friday, February 6 at 10 a.m. in the Oak Room, located in the Barone Campus Center, a “ Youth Leadership Academy ” for more than 100 eighth grade students will be held, in which they will learn leadership skills, including conflict resolution, anti-bullying techniques and more.

On Friday, January 30 at 6 p.m. at the Quick Center for the Arts, the “Poetry for Peace” event will take place at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, in which elementary students from Bridgeport and Fairfield come to campus to read aloud their award-winning poetry. The event is free and open to the public.

On Wednesday, February 4, at 7 p.m. at the Quick Center for the Arts, Dr. Clarence B. Jones, political advisor, counsel, and former draft speechwriter for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will be the keynote speaker at the 2015 MLK, Jr. Convocation . From Dr. King's beautifully illustrated philosophies in his 1963 Letter From A Birmingham Jail to the powerful “I Have A Dream” speech, Jones finds that 50 years later the same challenges of racial segregation and unfair treatment are still posed for civil society today. The event will include the announcements of winners of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest for middle schools students in Bridgeport. The contest was organized by the Connecticut Post, Fairfield University, and Connecticut Writing Project – Fairfield. The event is free and open to the public.

*Please note additional MLK events were planned but due to the blizzard, it’s uncertain when they will be rescheduled. (Please check www.fairfield.edu for info): a free screening of the film, “ The Loving Story ,” and panel discussion on the landmark case that inspired the documentary from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, January 26 in the DiMenna-Nyselius Library Multimedia Room. This event is funded in part through a grant from The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History program “Created Equal: America's Civil Rights Struggle.” On Tuesday, January 27 starting at 2 p.m., there will be a Memorial March through campus with students and faculty to raise awareness about the history of social justice and activism at the University. Those interested are asked to meet outside on the plaza between Donnarumma and Canisius.

Wylie Smith Blake, campus minister of Community Outreach, and Dr. Kris Sealey, associate professor of Philosophy, are co-chairs of this year’s MLK observance, supported by a committee of 21 volunteers. More details are available at Fairfield.edu/mlk.

Image: Children from local schools will read aloud their work at the upcoming Poetry for Peace.