Wooster’s annual MLK celebration to bring community reflection on democracy and social injustice
The College of Wooster will host its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration from Monday, Jan. 20 through Thursday, Jan. 23. The week will focus on the theme “Meditations on Democracy,” inviting students, faculty, staff, and the local community to participate in the meaningful exploration and dialogue about issues that connect with King’s work and vision on civil rights and social justice, activism, responsibility, and engagement.
The celebration begins with the College’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 20, at 9 a.m. in Kittredge Hall. Randal Maurice Jelks, Ruth N. Halls professor of African American and African Diaspora Studies at Indiana University, will present the keynote address. Monday evening, the Wooster Gospel Choir and Jazz Ensemble will join four narrators in performing Christian McBride’s multi-movement work The Movement Revisited at First Presbyterian Church at 7 p.m.
Jelks is an award-winning author, with a repertoire of more than four pieces including an essay collection. He most recently released the book Letters to Martin: Meditations on Democracy in Black America in 2022, containing twelve meditations written in letter format to King. The book discusses public issues in the United States including economic inequality, freedom of assembly, police brutality, ongoing social class conflicts, and geopolitics. Jelks is also a documentary film producer, contributing to works such as Langston’s Lawrence, Garden City Kansas, and a documentary with Academy Award winner Kevin Willmott on Langston Hughes, a jazz poet and leader of the Harlem Renaissance, titled I, Too, Sing America.
The MLK Day celebration continues with Justice Dialogues in the Lowry Student Center on Tuesday, Jan. 21, and Thursday, Jan. 23 at 11 a.m., engaging audiences in advocacy and justice conversations. This year, the Justice Dialogues place a special emphasis on encouraging attendees to reflect not only on how diverse public issues impact the United States, but also how these daily issues impact themselves personally. Look for more information about the Justice Dialogues as the week approaches at wooster.edu/mlk.
Aligning with King’s commitment to uplifting communities through unconditional love and compassion, the College will host a variety of activities to support the local community. Art work from Wooster City Schools students related to the theme of “Meditations on Democracy” will be displayed in Lowry Center. The College’s Longbrake Student Wellness Center is hosting a hygiene products drive throughout the week. Located at 570 E. Wayne Avenue, the center will be accepting hygiene products and personal care items to support OneEighty’s shelter cupboards. OneEighty is a Wooster-based community organization committed to providing care and reducing stigma for individuals experiencing trauma, mental illness, and substance use disorders
All events throughout the week are open to the public. For more information contact cdi@wooster.edu.
Featured photo: Photo of Randal Maurice Jelks, Ruth N. Halls professor of African American and African Diaspora Studies at Indiana University, provided by Jelks.
Posted in News on January 6, 2025.
