Emmy Award Winning actor Ron Jones
12/9/2021
Ferrum College invites students, faculty, staff, and members of the community to join in a celebration of the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Thursday, January 27, 2022. The free event will be held in Vaughn Chapel at 7 p.m.
The keynote speaker will be Emmy Award Winning actor Ron Jones, who serves as the executive director and artistic principal of Dialogues on Diversity, a social justice and diversity theater company. Jones will perform a live character portrayal with video to depict MLK’s “Poor People’s Campaign.” This campaign included a broad cross-section of cultural groups who came together to fight against poverty. It was described by King as “the beginning of a new co-operation, understanding, and a determination by poor people of all colors and backgrounds to assert and win their right to a decent life and respect for their culture and dignity.”
The celebration is sponsored by the Ferrum College Office of Student Activities; the Committee on Diversity, Inclusion, & Equity; and the Black Student Union.
Ferrum College junior Davon “D” Robinson ’21 will be the keynote speaker at the College’s MLK Day program.
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Ferrum College Black Student Union (BSU) has prepared a program which will be held in Vaughn Chapel on campus from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. The keynote speaker will be Ferrum College junior Davon “D” Robinson ’21 who will talk about “Learning to Live.” The program is free and open to the public.
The program will also feature short civil rights films, a video of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech, and poetry from the College’s BSU.
Ferrum College’s BSU is open to all students and seeks to serve the community by promoting unity and cultural awareness among students, faculty, and staff. Read more about Ferrum College’s clubs and activities here.
Ferrum College will commemorate and honor the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. next week with The True Black History Museum traveling exhibit celebrating black history and a visit from Free Hugs Project founder Ken Nwadike, Jr.
For Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Mon., Jan. 15, 2018, The True Black History Museum’s exhibit, A Tribute to the African-American Journey, will be on display from 9AM – 2PM in the Panthers Den in Franklin Hall on campus. Over 150 rare and authentic artifacts will be shown, including original documents from historic figures such Frederick Douglass, Mary McLeod Bethune, Booker T. Washington, Rosa Parks, George Washington Carver, Angela Davis, President Barack Obama, and many other great African-Americans. There will also be a lecture and Q&A session at 11:30AM.
Please note: In support of these activities, we will use the Midday Special Program Schedule.
The campus community will continue to celebrate King’s life on Thurs., Jan. 18, with a visit from peace activist, video journalist, and YouTube personality Ken Nwadike, Jr., who will give an address designed to promote peace and unity at 7PM in the Blue Ridge Mountain Room in Franklin Hall on campus. Nwadike is the founder of the Free Hugs Project, which produces motivational videos to spread love, inspire change, and raise awareness of social issues. His Free Hugs videos have reached millions of viewers on Facebook and YouTube. Nwadike also overcame many challenges as a former homeless student athlete and now owns Superhero Events, an event production company that raises funds and awareness for homeless teens.
Both Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration events are free and open to the public. For more information, please contact the Student Leadership & Engagement Office at (540) 365-4441 or slet@ferrum.edu.
