Join Salve Regina’s weeklong celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Love is the greatest force in the universe. It is the heartbeat of the moral cosmos.”
–Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
As Salve Regina continues to focus in on the critical concerns of nonviolence and antiracism this academic year, the University celebrates the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through a week of events and activities. MLK Week 2022 will run from Monday, Jan. 17, to Friday, Jan. 21. All of these opportunities will be open University community members.
The MLK Week 2022 Planning Committee was led by Morgan Matos ’23, early childhood education major, FYT peer mentor, treasurer of the Black Student Union and student ambassador; Dr. Sami Nassim, assistant vice president for diversity initiatives and retention; and Dr. Theresa Ladrigan-Whelpley, vice-president for mission integration. They collaborated with faculty, staff and students across the University, as well as the Newport Branch of the NAACP, to develop a robust array of offerings for the week.
“The life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. serves as a prophetic witness to our Salve community,” said Dr. Ladrigan-Whelpley. “He calls us to bear witness to the truth of our human dignity and that of our neighbor. To challenge bias in ourselves and in our institutions and to act with mercy and seek restorative justice. I hope Salve’s MLK Week celebration will be an invitation to renew our shared commitment to the critical concerns of mercy, especially antiracism and nonviolence.”
Registration and further descriptions of each event can be found on MLK Week’s official web page here.
Due to the rising cases of the coronavirus, most events on-campus will be virtual.
Monday, Jan. 17
37th Annual NAACP Birthday Program
All-day
Join the NAACP on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day for an abbreviated day of community-based events, including the annual torch run from Patriot Park in Middletown to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center in Newport and a virtual afternoon program.
Movie Night and Dialogue
7 p.m., Online Event
Join the Salve Regina community for a screening of “Loving” to kick off MLK Week. The film tells the story of Richard and Mildred Loving, a couple whose arrest for interracial marriage in 1960s Virginia began a legal battle that would end with the Supreme Court’s historic 1967 decision. The film screening will be followed by a dialogue facilitated by student leaders.
To register for this event, go here.
Tuesday, Jan. 18
Sabbath Time Vigil for Nonviolence
1:45-2:15 p.m., Online Event
To register for this event, go here.
Spoken Word: Bending the Arc of the Universe Toward Justice
6:30 p.m., Online Event
Join the Office of Multicultural Programs and Retention for a lively spoken word and song event with contributions from students, faculty and staff. Advance the work of justice and mercy and call for social action and transformation in the spirit and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
To register for this event, go here.
Wednesday, Jan. 19
Town Hall With the Presidential Commission for Equity and Inclusion
3 p.m., Online Event
Join the Presidential Commission for Equity and Inclusion for a presentation on the outcomes of the campus climate survey, with an opportunity for community discussion, reflection and input.
To register for this event, go here.
Thursday, Jan. 20
Keynote Lecture: “Culture and Caste: Unpacking the Roots of Racism in America”
4 p.m., Online Event
Join Isabel Wilkerson, author of “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents” and “The Warmth of Other Suns,” for a lecture exploring the layers of racialized injustice and violence across the American story from foundations to the present. Following the lecture, President Kelli J. Armstrong will facilitate a Q&A with the Salve Regina community. This is co-sponsored along with the Inclusive Reading Club. Registration is required for attendance.
To register for this event, go here.
Friday, Jan. 21
Day of Service
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Join the Center for Community Engagement and Service for various on- and off-campus service opportunities throughout the day with Salve Regina’s community partners around Aquidneck Island. All students, faculty and staff are welcomed and encouraged to participate. Each opportunity will be socially distanced and/or outside, and participants will need to wear masks in order to participate.
To register for service opportunities, go here.
The Planning Committee for MLK Week consisted of Rose Albert, Heather Axen, MaryAnne Davey, Santiago Durango, Robin Hoffmann, Victoria Johnson, Theresa Ladrigan-Whelpley (co-chair), Tony LoPresti, Morgan Matos (co-chair), Dyanna Moreira, Alexia Moreno, Sami Nassim (co-chair), Tim Neary, Mary Beth Pelletier, Kelly Powers and Albert Watkins.
