Emory Hosts Martin Luther King Jr. Week Activities Jan. 15-21

Emory University's Martin Luther King Week activities include a popular volunteer tree planting project; talks by theologian Vincent G. Harding and civil rights pioneer Doris A. Derby; and a worship service featuring a Presbyterian pastor from Johannesburg, South Africa. All events are free and open to the public.

Emory will once again partner with Trees Atlanta to plant trees in the historic King district. This year's project will focus on Jackson Street. Coordinated by Volunteer Emory, the project has been very popular with Atlantans and Emory students, staff and faculty in the past. To volunteer, call 404-727-6268.

Featured speakers this year are civil rights activist Doris A. Derby and theologian Vincent Harding.

Derby is director of the Office of African American Student Services and Programs at Georgia State University, and is a former member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee. She is an artist and educator who will speak at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 on her pioneering work in the Mississippi Delta during the civil rights movement. Her personal papers and photographs make up the accompanying Woodruff Library exhibit "Fertile Ground: The Civil Rights Movement and Its Legacy in the Mississippi Delta."

Harding, professor of religion and social transformation at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, will lead a forum at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 on the role of race and justice in American society. He has a long history of involvement in peace and justice movements, including the Southern black freedom struggle. He was the first director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Non-Violent Social Change and served as director and chairperson of The Institute of the Black World. He was senior academic consultant to the award-winning PBS television series, "Eyes on the Prize." He currently serves as co-chairperson of the Gandhi-Hamer-King Center for the Study of Religion and Democratic Renewal at Iliff. Among his publications are: "The Other American Revolution"; "There Is a River, Vol. 1"; "Hope and History"; "Martin Luther King: The Inconvenient Hero"; and "We Changed the World" (with R. Kelly and E. Lewis).

Another popular annual event is the jazz vespers service presided over by Dwight Andrews, Emory music professor and senior minister at First Congregational Church in Atlanta. The service will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18.

The university's non-denominational worship service on Sunday, Jan. 21 will feature the Very Most Rev. Maake Masango, pastor of St. Giles Presbyterian Church in Johannesburg, South Africa. Masango has hosted groups from Emory the last two summers as part of the university’s journeys of reconciliation.

For more information on King Week activities at Emory, go to: http://www.sph.emory.edu/AWARDS/kingweek.html or call 404-727-4148.

The schedule of Martin Luther King Jr. Week activities at Emory includes:

Monday, Jan. 15
Community Service Project. "Remembering Martin Luther King Through Service." Volunteers will plant trees along Jackson Street in the historic Martin Luther King Jr. district, in conjunction with Trees Atlanta. Meet on the corner of Irwin and Howell streets at 9 a.m. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 404-727-6268.

Tuesday, Jan. 16
Lecture and exhibit opening. "Fertile Ground: The Civil Rights Movement and Its Legacy in the Mississippi Delta." Doris Derby, educator, artist and former Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee member, will speak on her pioneering work in the Mississippi Delta during the civil rights movement. 4 p.m. Joseph W. Jones Room, Woodruff Library, 540 Asbury Circle, Emory.
An exhibition of Derby's personal papers and documentary photographs will be on display in the Special Collections Department of the Robert W. Woodruff Library from Jan. 16 - March 1, 2001.

Forum. Vincent Harding, professor of religion and social transformation, Iliff School of Theology, will discuss the role of race and justice. 7 p.m. Cox Hall ballroom, 569 Asbury Circle, Emory.

Wednesday, Jan. 17
Colloquium. "Reparations for African Americans: An Open Discussion." Facilitator: Vincent Harding, professor of religion and social transformation, University of Denver. 1 p.m. African American Studies reading room, Candler Library, 550 Asbury Circle, Emory.

Forum. "Women Talking With Women: Women of Color and White Women in Dialogue." Facilitator: Pamela Epps. 4 p.m. Women’s Center Conference Room, 618 McTyeire Dr., Emory (directly behind the Dobbs University Center).

Concert and birthday celebration. The Morehouse College Glee Club and Voices of Inner Strength gospel choir will perform in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. 8 p.m. Dobbs University Center commons, 605 Asbury Circle, Emory.

Thursday, Jan. 18
Community Service Awards ceremony. "Promoting Health and Economic Development through Reconciliation and Diversity." Guest speaker: Mark Mathabane, best-selling author of "Kaffir Boy," an autobiographical story of apartheid in South Africa. Musical selection by D'Vine. Reception to follow. 4 p.m. Miller-Ward Alumni House, 815 Houston Mill Road.

Jazz vespers. Dwight Andrews, Emory music professor and minister, will lead a jazz vespers service. 6 p.m. Cannon Chapel, 515 Kilgo Circle, Emory.

Worship service. Alton B. Pollard III, professor and director of black church studies at Emory’s Candler School of Theology, will preach. 7 p.m. Allen Memorial Church, W. Pierce St., Oxford, Ga.

Friday, Jan. 19
International student coffee hour panel discussion. "Civil Rights Within the International Community." 11:30 a.m. Winship Ballroom, Dobbs University Center, 605 Asbury Circle, Emory.

Dance performance. AHANA (African, Hispanic, Asian, Native American) Dance/Theater Troupe. Reception to follow honoring the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholars of Emory University. 7 p.m. 208 White Hall, 480 Kilgo Circle, Emory.

Sunday, Jan. 21
Worship service. The Very Most Rev. Maake Masango, pastor of St. Giles Presbyterian Church, Johannesburg, South Africa, will preach. Emory gospel group Voices of Inner Strength will sing. Reception follows in Brooks Commons. 11:15 a.m. Cannon Chapel, 515 Kilgo Circle, Emory.

ONGOING EVENTS
January 16- March 1
Exhibition. "Fertile Ground: The Civil Rights Movement and Its Legacy in the Mississippi Delta." The personal papers and documentary photographs of Doris A. Derby, educator, artist and former Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee member. Special Collections Department, Robert W. Woodruff Library, 540 Asbury Circle, Emory. Hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. The library will be closed Dec. 23-26, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. 404-727-6887

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