Join the University’s new week-long celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.
As the U.S. continues to wrestle with racial injustice and political upheaval, it is more important than ever to celebrate leaders who have worked tirelessly to bring about justice and peace and educate the community on the critical concerns facing our country. With this in mind, Salve Regina is offering an MLK Week to kick off the spring 2021 semester.
The MLK Week Planning Committee — which was led by J. Malcolm Smith, vice president for student affairs; Dr. Sami Nassim, assistant vice president for student success and director of multicultural programs; and Dr. Theresa Ladrigan-Whelpley, vice-president for mission integration — worked together with faculty, staff and students across the University to develop a robust array of offerings celebrating the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Throughout the week, faculty across departments are also opening up their classrooms virtually to the wider campus and community as part of the MLK Teach-In for Mercy and Justice.
“The life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. serves as a prophetic witness,” said Dr. Ladrigan-Whelpley. “He calls us to respond with all of who we are, challenging us as individuals and as a community to combat racial injustice and white supremacy and prioritize the work of the Critical Concerns, affirming the rights and responsibilities that flow from our human dignity. This is central to our mission as a Mercy, Catholic institution.”
MLK Week will run from Monday, Jan. 18 to Saturday, Jan. 23. Salve Regina’s MLK Week examines the history of the civil rights movement and the impact of systemic racism and persistent racial disparities locally and nationally. Through education, dialogue, and community engagement and service, MLK Week will seek to advance committed action around the critical concerns of the Sisters of Mercy, particularly anti-racism and nonviolence, and further the Mercy mission of the University.
There is a lot going on across these six days, and all of the information on registration, as well as further descriptions of each event, can be found on MLK Week’s page here. Most events are offered virtually as well.
Monday, Jan. 18
36th Annual NAACP Annual Birthday Program
Noon via livestream
Join the Newport County Branch NAACP and Salve’s Center for Community Engagement and Service for an MLK Day conversation with guest speaker Command Senior Chief Jerome Nurse.
Wednesday, Jan. 20
Virtual Presidential Inauguration At-Home Viewing Kit Pick-Up
Inauguration is Wednesday at noon and can be viewed through PBS livestream. Stop by McKillop Library starting on Monday, Jan. 19th to pick up a viewing party bag with a livestream link for the Presidential Inauguration, treats and reflection questions for this historic event.
Lecture and Dialogue: “Keeping the Faith: The Past and Future of Civil Rights in the United States – Reflections on a Historic Election” with Bernard Lafayette Jr.
5 p.m., via livestream
On this historic inauguration day, join civil rights activist Bernard Lafayette Jr. as he reflects on the work of the civil rights movement past and present and the ongoing need to advance the work of racial justice and civil rights in United States.
Film Screening and Dialogue: “Just Mercy”
7 p.m., Bazarsky Lecture Hall
Join the Salve Regina community for a film screening of “Just Mercy,” based on the best-selling memoir by Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative.
Thursday, Jan. 21
MLK Sermons and Speeches
2-4 p.m., Our Lady of Mercy Chapel
Visit the chapel to hear select sermons and speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. and spend some time listening to his most challenging and encouraging words. Be inspired in the work of justice and nonviolence.
Community Read and Discussion: “Just Mercy”
4 p.m., via livestream
Join the Inclusive Reading Club for a discussion of Bryan Stevenson’s “Just Mercy,” an unforgettable true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us and a clarion call to end mass incarceration in America. Free copies of the book are available in McKillop Library and select chapters are also available online.
Vigil for Nonviolence
5:30 p.m., Our Lady of Mercy Chapel
Join the Mercy Center for Spiritual Life in remembering the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. as we seek to bend the arch of the moral universe towards justice.
Lecture and Dialogue: “Health is a Human Right: Addressing Racial and Economic Disparities in a Pandemic”
7 p.m., via livestream
Join Ana Novais, deputy director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, for a lecture and dialogue around racial and economic disparities as they relate to the coronavirus pandemic.
Friday, Jan. 22
Town Hall: Community Dialogue on Equity and Inclusion
1 p.m., via livestream
Join President Kelli J. Armstrong and members of the Presidential Commission on Equity and Inclusion to learn about their efforts and share reflections on the work of equity and inclusion at Salve Regina.
Spoken Word and Song: “Bending the Arc of the Universe Toward Justice”
4 p.m., via livestream
Join the Office of Multicultural Programs and Retention for a lively spoken word and song event with contributions from students, faculty, and staff, advancing the work of justice and mercy and calling for social action.
Saturday, Jan. 23
Diversity in Motion Workshop
Noon to 4 p.m.
Join the Diversity in Motion Research Collective for “Embodied Power Flower: Intersectionality and The Complexity of Identity and Oppression.” Participants will explore how all inequality is not created equal, examining how social identities can overlap, creating a complexity of oppression and privilege.
Other opportunities
Faculty from across the disciplines will open their classrooms to the wider campus and local community to explore topics related to issues of racial justice, human rights, civil rights, mercy and the critical concerns of the Sisters of Mercy. There will also be service opportunities during the week as well
For a list of teach-in events and service opportunities, go to MLK Week’s page. This is also where participants can register for the events that are being held virtually and find further pertinent information on each event.
