In keeping with the tradition of honoring the life and works of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Marietta College has planned a host of educational and service events.
“The 2024 King Center theme is, ‘It Starts with Me: Shifting the Cultural Climate through the Study and Practice of Kingian Nonviolence,’” said Tony Mayle, Director of Diversity and Inclusion and Associate Dean of Students. “The week-long observance begins on Friday, January 12, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., with lunch for students and employees in Gilman honoring the Selma to Montgomery Marchers and Georgia Gilmore, Montgomery cook, midwife, and activist who organized and led food drives for the marchers.”
That evening, there will also be a public viewing of the film, “The Rosa Parks Story” at 7 p.m. in the Alma McDonough Auditorium, which is free and open to the community.
Mayle said programming was made possible with sponsorship by Marietta’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion, the McDonough Center for Leadership, the Office of Education Abroad, the Civil War Roundtable of the Mid-Ohio Valley, and ServeOhio.
“Our main event celebration will be on Saturday, January 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Alma McDonough Auditorium,” Mayle said. “It will be student-led and feature presentations by students who participated in the fall break experience trip to Montgomery and Selma, Alabama, Exploring Black Slavery: 1619 through Today. There will also be musical performances by Karen Walker. Our keynote speaker will be Jo Ann Bland, who was a foot soldier in the Selma to Montgomery March on March 7, 1965 (Bloody Sunday). Mrs. Bland was arrested 13 times by the time she was 11 years old due to civil rights demonstrations.”
Students Alayna Francis ’26 (Irwin, Pennsylvania) and Isaiah Mitchell ’25 (Marietta, Ohio) will emcee the event.
The January 13 event concludes with guided historical tours of key sites on campus related to African American history. It is open to the community as well as MC students and employees.
Monday, January 15, will be a personal day of reflection and a celebration of the life and legacy of King. Service opportunities for students and employees will take place from January 16 through January 19. Visit www.marietta.edu/2024-mlk-day-celebration to see the schedule of events. Students and employees can sign up for a service project through the Marietta Engage app, which can be downloaded via the MLK Day events page.
To conclude the week-long celebration, on Friday, January 19, starting at 7 p.m., in the Alma McDonough Auditorium, there will be a public viewing of the film, “Selma.”
“Every year, Marietta College has grown the educational and service aspects honoring Dr. King,” Mayle said. “This is a great opportunity to learn about the history and culture of the Civil Rights Movement in America and who Dr. King was and his impact on how we live today.”