Eric Abercrumbie, director of Ethnic Programs and the African-American Culture and Research Center at the University of Cincinnati, will speak Jan. 18 at the Laboratory as part of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. observance. Abercrumbie will talk at 10:30 a.m., in the Administration Building Auditorium at Technical Area 3. This year's theme is "Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On ... Not a Day Off." The talk also will be shown on LABNET Channel 9 and on desktop computers via Real Media Stream and IPTV technology.
Attendees must have a Q or L clearance or be officially escorted to hear the talk in the Adminisration Building Auditorium. Escort papers must be arranged in advance through the Badge Office. Lab personnel also can watch a live video feed of the talk in the Physics Building Auditorium where no clearance is required. The Laboratory is closed on Monday, Jan. 17, in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.
The civil rights leader was assassinated outside a Memphis hotel room on April 4, 1968. King was 39 at the time of his death. "This observance recognizes the efforts of one American who worked to protect the civil rights of every American," said Diversity (DVO) Office Leader Lisa Gutierrez. "I urge all employees to attend Abercrumbie's presentation."
In addition to the Laboratory, the Department of Energy's Los Alamos Site Office is co-sponsoring the talk. Significant support is provided by the Diversity/Affirmative Action Board, the African American Diversity Working Group and DVO.
Abercrumbie also is an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of African-American Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Cincinnati.
He is the originator of the "Black Man Think Tank," which has received national acclaim. He is highly recognized in his work with cultural diversity and serves as a racial/human relations consultant to corporations, community groups and educational systems.
Abercrumbie currently serves as president of the John D. O'Bryant National Think Tank for Black Professionals in Higher Education on Predominantly White Campuses, and is author of one chapter in the think tank's first book, "Our Stories: The Experiences of Black Professionals on Predominately White Campuses."
For more information on the talk, go to the DVO Web page or contact Danny Valdez in DVO at 5-7215.
--Brenna Moore