CU-Boulder and City of Boulder Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with Jan. 19 Events

January 14, 2009

The University of Colorado at Boulder and the city of Boulder will host a celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the University Memorial Center on Monday, Jan. 19.

The daylong schedule of events, titled "The Fierce Urgency of Now," will feature workshops, children's activities, a rally and march, as well as a keynote address by Associate Professor Polly McLean titled "Our Challenge and Our Opportunity." McLean is on the faculty of the CU-Boulder School of Journalism and Mass Communication and is a leading authority on the history of African Americans in Boulder County.

"Dr. King always spoke of our 'inescapable network of mutuality," said Sallye McKee, vice chancellor of diversity, equity and community engagement at CU-Boulder. "The 2009 celebration of his 80th birthday occurs at a special time in our national history that will forever remind us of how 'We are indeed tied in a single garment of destiny.'

"I commend our university staff, faculty and students who have partnered with citizens of Boulder to plan a celebration that honors 'the fierce urgency of now' as an imperative for our work ahead," McKee said.

The event also will feature music by hip-hop artist RadioActive, who has performed with activist/musician Michael Franti and Spearhead.

"The Fierce Urgency of Now" is sponsored by CU-Boulder, the Boulder MLK Planning Committee and a host of other city and university groups.

Major events of the day include:

Welcome and Overview of Events
9-9:30 a.m.
UMC Glenn Miller Ballroom

Human Rights Fair and Breakfast
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Glenn Miller Ballroom

Children's Activities
9:30 a.m.-noon
UMC 235

Workshops
9:30-11:10 a.m.
(see Web site for descriptions and locations)

Keynote: "Our Challenge and Our Opportunity"
Professor Polly McLean
11:30 a.m.- noon
Glenn Miller Ballroom

Rally and March
12:30-2 p.m.
UMC Terrace

Birthday Cake, entertainment by RadioActive, and Closing Remarks
2-3 p.m.
Glenn Miller Ballroom

For a complete list of events and descriptions of workshops visit www.colorado.edu/cu-diversity/cma/ and click on "Events."

Contact

Sallye McKee, 303-735-1332
sallye.mckee@colorado.edu
Malinda Miller-Huey, 303-492-3115

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