Pitt to Honor Martin Luther King Jr. With Celebration of Unity, Jan. 13-20

The University of Pittsburgh will host “A Celebration of Unity,” a series of events to honor Martin Luther King Jr., from Jan. 13 through 20. The celebration begins with an opening ceremony at noon Jan. 13 on the 6th floor of the William Pitt Union (WPU).

A complete schedule follows.

Tuesday, Jan. 13
Noon
Opening Ceremony, 6th floor, WPU.
Linda Williams Moore, director of Pitt’s Cross Cultural and Leadership Development Center (CCLD), and other speakers.
6 p.m.
“Furthering the Dream,” 630 WPU.
A dialogue on the merits of realizing dreams through the power of education, facilitated by Deborah Walker, assistant to the dean of students and director of the RISE Program at Pitt.
8:45 p.m.   
The University Library System (ULS) presents Eyes on the Prize, Hillman Library.
Eyes on the Prize is an acclaimed civil rights film series depicting Martin Luther King Jr., the March on Washington, and other civil rights initiatives of the 1950s and ’60s.

Wednesday, Jan. 14
1 p.m.
Eyes on the Prize (second showing), Hillman Library.
7 p.m.
“Celebrating the Spoken Word,” 6th floor, WPU.
Performances by groups and individuals.

Thursday, Jan. 15
Noon
“Happy Birthday, Dr. King,” 6th floor, WPU.
A birthday celebration with cake and ice cream.
6 p.m.
University of Pittsburgh Association of Chaplaincies presents “A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin L. King Jr.,” Heinz Chapel.
7-9 p.m.
Black Action Society presents “Meet-and-Greet Game Night,” 6th floor, WPU.
7 p.m.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., “Candle Light Vigil Honoring Dr. King.”

Friday, Jan. 16
1 p.m.
“Spaces and Places of Intolerance,” 630 WPU.
Moderated by Carolyn Prorok, professor of geography at Slippery Rock University. Controlling physical and social space by one group over another is a common means for empowerment at the expense of those whose mobility is constrained. This presentation will introduce the local and global dimensions of intolerance as a mechanism for enacting power relations between individuals and groups in various cultural contexts.
2:30 p.m.
CCLD presents “International Celebration of Human Rights: These Songs of Freedom.” Enjoy the sounds of freedom that resonate throughout the world’s history of liberation, 6th floor, WPU.

Monday, Jan. 19
8 a.m.
Pitt’s Black Action Society presents “Unity in the Community!!!”: community service projects at the Jubilee Kitchen and Manchester Bidwell Training Center.  Meet on the 6th floor, WPU. For more information, call 412-648-9523.

Tuesday, Jan. 20
11 a.m.
Unity Celebration: Viewing the Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama—Nordy’s Place, WPU.

The events are sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Inc., the Black Action Society, the Cross Cultural and Leadership Development Office, Dean of Students Kathy Humphrey and the Division of Student Affairs, the Office of Residence Life, Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh, University Center for International Studies, the University Library System, and University of Pittsburgh Chaplaincies. For more information, call the CCLD at 412-648-9523.