National restorative justice leader to headline Fairfield University’s Martin Luther King, Jr. remembrance events. | Press Releases

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (January 20, 2017) — Dr. Fania Davis, a social justice activist, Civil Rights trial attorney with over 27 years of experience and restorative justice practitioner, will be this year’s keynote speaker at the 2017 MLK, Jr. Convocation. The event will be held on Wednesday, January 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Quick Center for the Arts.

Dr. Davis founded Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth (RJOY) in 2005 with Oakland City Councilmember, Nancy Nadel, and community activist, Aeeshah Clottey. Inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission process that followed apartheid in South Africa and made youth incarceration virtually obsolete in New Zealand, RJOY began with a series of meetings to explore the possibility of bringing a similar program to Oakland. RJOY works to stop cycles of youth violence and incarceration by promoting institutional shifts towards restorative approaches that engage families, communities and systems to provide education, training and technical assistance.

Dr. Davis has received the Ubuntu Award for service to humanity, the Dennis Maloney Award for Excellence in Youth Restorative Justice, and World Trust's Healing Justice Award. The Los Angeles Times named her a New Civil Rights Leader of the 21st Century.

The Convocation will be preceded by a dinner and award presentation to this year’s Vision Award recipients, recognize individuals who demonstrate a commitment to the ideals and values of Dr. King and the winners of the annual essay contest for middle school students. The 2017 Vision Award Recipients are Anmol Tabassum '18 ; Paul Lakeland, PhD, Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. Chair in Catholic Studies & Professor of Religious Studies ; and Ophelie Rowe Allen, EdD., Director of Residence Life.

Carrie Robinson, Assistant Director of the Office of Student Diversity, and Rachelle Brunn-Bevel, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Anthropology, are co-chairs of this year’s MLK observance, supported by a committee of volunteers. More details are available at Fairfield.edu/mlk .

Additional events include:

Memorial March

Tuesday, January 24, 3:30 p.m.

Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola

Students and faculty will join in a Memorial March around campus to raise awareness about the history of social justice and activism at Fairfield.

Poetry for Peace

Tuesday, January 24, 6 p.m.

Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts

For the ninth year, Poetry for Peace brings elementary school students from Bridgeport schools to campus to read their award-winning poetry.

Day of Service

Thursday, January 26

Various Locations

Youth Leadership Academy

Friday, January 27, 9:30 a.m.

The University will host more than 100 eighth-graders in the Youth Leadership Academy, where they will learn leadership skills, including conflict resolution, anti-bullying techniques, and more.

Gospel Mass

Sunday, January 29, 7 p.m.

Egan Chapel

Danney Gibbs, Minister of Music for The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit Mass Choir will lead the music at a special 7 p.m. Mass on Sunday, January 29, in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola.

Open VISIONS Forum: James Blake

Monday, January 30, 8 p.m.

Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts

$35 | $5 Fairfield University Students. QCA Member Price: $27.

Purchase tickets at quickcenter.fairfield.edu .

#Vol. 49, No. 101

Fairfield University is a Jesuit University, rooted in one of the world’s oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions. More than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 36 states, 47 foreign countries, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are enrolled in the University’s five schools. In the spirit of rigorous and sympathetic inquiry into all dimensions of human experience, Fairfield welcomes students from diverse backgrounds to share ideas and engage in open conversations. The University is located in the heart of a region where the future takes shape, on a stunning campus on the Connecticut coast just an hour from New York City.