MLK 2018 Schedule of Events

Schedule for Commemoration Week

Monday, January 15, 2018
MLK, Jr. Day of Service
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Alumni Hall, HUB – Robeson Center
Join us for the MLK, Jr. Day of Service on January 15th from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Meet in Alumni Hall and disperse to various locations on campus and throughout the State College community to do service for the day. Be sure to wear warm clothes in case you are outside! T-shirt and food provided!

Sign up at volunteer.psu.edu

Monday, January 15, 2018
Film Screening of the Rise! (1940-1968): The African Americans-Many Rivers to Cross
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Foster Auditorium, first floor, Paterno Library
This documentary focuses on the time period from 1940 to 1968. It examines the long road to civil rights, when deep contradictions in American society finally became unsustainable. The last screening is at 4:00 p.m.

Monday, January 15, 2018
Essence of Joy Performance
1:30 – 2:15 p.m.
Location: Franklin Atrium, first floor, Pattee Library

The renowned Penn State choral ensemble which performs sacred and secular music from the African/African American choral traditions will be performing.

Monday, January 15, 2018
43rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Banquet
Location: Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center

Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Thinking Critically About Inclusion
Lunch Time Program for Faculty and Staff
Location: HUB-Robeson Center, Room 233A
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Presidential Leadership Academy and the MLK, Jr. Commemoration Committee will welcome Educator and Poet; Jive Poetic to Penn State to speak with Faculty and Staff about Inclusion in the classroom.  Jive Poetic is a spoken word artist and activist from Brooklyn, New York. He received his undergraduate education from SUNY-Buffalo and graduated in 2017 with his M.F.A. in Writing from the Pratt Institute, where he was recognized with the John Morning Award for Art & Service and published an academic thesis. This will be an opportunity for Faculty and Staff to think critically about what inclusion looks like in the classroom and beyond. Faculty and Staff are also encouraged to bring their lunch and dessert will be provided.

Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Presentation by Dr. Ed Jackson Jr., Executive Architect for the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial, in Washington, D.C.
Location: Freeman Auditorium, HUB-Robeson Center
7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Dr. Jackson served as the executive architect for the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. from November 1996 to March 2012. His presentation will focus on the challenges and successes in the planning and design of the memorial, which was 28 years in the making.

Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Silence Interrupted: Reconstructing the Dream-A Talent Showcase and Social Justice Reception
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Heritage Hall,  HUB-Robeson Center
Silence Interrupted returns a second year by popular demand. A talent contest will feature students answering a prompt by using any artistic form they choose. The social justice reception will follow with food and discussion on various social justice topics.

Thursday, January 18, 2018
Art Activism in the ’60s
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Heritage Hall,  HUB-Robeson Center
This event features art, poetry, and essays for local youth throughout the State College community. Join us as we celebrate elementary, middle, and high school students and their interpretation of this year’s MLK, Jr. Commemoration theme.

Friday, January 19, 2018
Evening Celebration
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Schwab Auditorium
This culminating event of the week will celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King through various performances and distinguished speaker Amanda Seales.

  • Tickets will not be available prior to the event.
  • Tickets will be available on a first come first serve basis.
  • Doors open at 5:30 p.m.