5 Ways to Observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Drexel
By Frank Otto
With the arrival of Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2015, a variety of ways to observe the day and reflect on its meaning are available to Drexel students, faculty and staff.
Check out this list of events provided to DrexelNow to help find a way to personally remember the struggles of men, women and children fighting for civil rights and carry on the spirit of King’s work.
- “Civil Rights: From Mississippi Freedom to Ferguson” — Thursday, Jan. 15, 6–8 p.m., Bossone Research Enterprise Center, Mitchell Auditorium
A panel discussion reflecting upon the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s will also draw parallels to current issues that have led to large-scale protests across the country.
Those on the panel will include professors and historians as well as local community leaders from Philadelphia.
More information available here.
- Exhibit: Children, Youth and Civil Rights — Thursday, Jan. 15– Feb. 19, W.W. Hagerty Library, First Floor Atrium
Highlighting the efforts of young people during the civil rights movement from 1951 to 1968, the traveling exhibit was developed at the University of California by students under the guidance of a former Drexel professor.
Combining photos, periodicals and numbers gathered about the time, the exhibit touches on events like 1963’s Birmingham Children’s Crusade, the efforts to admit orphan black boys to Philadelphia’s Girard College, and the Little Rock Nine who desegregated an all-white high school in 1957.
More information available here.
- Martin Luther King Day of Dialogues: “Exploring Race and Gender Through Intergroup Dialogue” — Monday, Jan. 19, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., North Hall, Multi-Purpose Room
Consisting of two student dialogues, the Martin Luther King Day of Dialogues aims to stimulate discussion and the passage of knowledge. One discussion will focus on race and racism while the other will focus on gender and sexism.
Facilitators will be available to help generate meaningful discussion in the two dialogue sessions simply titled, “The Real Talk.”
More information available here.
- Martin Luther King Day of Service — Monday, Jan. 19, 9:45 a.m.–2 p.m., Daskalakis Athletic Center
Join the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement for an opportunity to work along with students and teachers at Paul Robeson High School for an improvement project that includes indoor painting.
In addition to the opportunity to help the local school, there will be some time to reflect on King’s accomplishments and legacy.
Volunteers can meet in the lobby of the Daskalakis Athletic Center at 9:45 a.m. to travel together to the school for the project.
More information available here.
- Engineers in Service — Monday, Jan. 19, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., Bossone Research Enterprise Center, First Floor
Students are invited to this event hosted by DragonsTeach that features the creation of kits designed to teach science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) for a local high school.
Speakers will also talk about engineering and how service to the community can be incorporated into the field.
Email dragonsteachcoop@drexel.edu for more information.
To check out any other events that may be added for Martin Luther King Day, click here.