FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A veteran of the civil rights movement, an Arkansas district judge and the first African American dean of the School of Law at the University of Arkansas will join in the northwest Arkansas celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The two-week celebration, which includes memorial services, a public march and vigil, as well as community service projects, also coincides with the inauguration of Barack Obama, the first African American to serve as president of the United States.

“Realizing the Dream by Embracing Change” is the theme for the 13^th annual Days of Recommitment events, organized by the Northwest Arkansas Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Planning Committee and the university’s MLK Jr. Committee.

The Days of Recommitment activities are intended to honor the life, achievements and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Gene C. Young

Cynthia Nance

Hon. Marion Humphrey

Gene C. Young, who joined the battle for civil rights in Jackson, Miss., in 1963, at the age of 12, will be the featured speaker at the 13^th annual Recommitment Banquet at the Fayetteville Town Center at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19. Young took part in the March on Washington and was in the audience for King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. He has remained active in the movement throughout his life. He earned his doctorate at the University of Connecticut, was director of the Black Studies program at Bradley University and later taught at Jackson State University.

Cynthia Nance, dean of the School of Law, will present a lecture at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, in the E.J. Ball Courtroom. Dean Nance was a recipient of the Northwest Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Individual Achievement Award. She is the first African American to serve as dean at the School of Law University of Arkansas.

The Hon. Marion Humphrey, circuit judge for the Sixth Judicial District, Pulaski and Perry counties, will give a lecture at 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, in Giffels Auditorium in Old Main. Judge Humphrey has a divinity degree from Harvard and a law degree from the University of Arkansas. He will speak on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration begins with the dedication of Martin Luther King Boulevard in Fayetteville at 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15. Representatives from the Arkansas Department of Transportation, the city of Fayetteville and members of the Northwest Arkansas MLK Planning Committee will join local citizens to formally rename Fayetteville’s Sixth Street as Martin Luther King Boulevard. The event will take place at the boulevard’s intersection with Razorback Road.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity will sponsor a service project to perform odd jobs for elderly people in the community. Volunteers from several fraternities, sororities, student organizations and the northwest Arkansas community will meet at St. James Baptist Church, 115 S. Willow St., to take part in this activity.

At 7 p.m. that evening, a “Service of Praise and Reflection” will be held at Sequoyah United Methodist Church, 1910 N. Old Wire Road. This event will be hosted by the Northwest Arkansas MLK Jr. Planning Committee. Several community leaders will reflect on their experiences during the time in which King was actively involved in the civil rights movement. Area choirs and choral groups will also perform.

At 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, a memorial service will be held for Martin Luther King Jr. at the St. James Baptist Church in Fayetteville. This day is dedicated to encouraging ceremonies to commemorate King’s birthday by promoting racial harmony, understanding, respect and goodwill among all people. 

Events on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 19, will begin with a Youth Prayer Breakfast at 8 a.m. at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House, 491 N. Razorback Road. Local youth will come together in prayer and to reflect on how the meaning behind King's dream has affected their lives. Several young people will speak at the event. At 9:30 a.m. the boys and girls will go to the University of Arkansas Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building to play games such as basketball, volleyball and racquetball.

At 11:15 a.m., in the Walton Arts Center parking lot, the city of Fayetteville will present a City Award Program to honor a city employee who exhibits the spirit and legacy of King.

This will be followed by a march from the parking lot to the Fulbright Peace Fountain at the University of Arkansas, and from there to the Arkansas Union Connections Lounge, where a noon vigil will be held to honor King. The vigil is sponsored by the university’s Black Students Association and the Associated Student Government.

In the event of inclement weather, the award program and march will be held at the Connections Lounge.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day events will conclude with the 13^th annual Recommitment Banquet at the Fayetteville Town Center at 7 p.m. In addition to the speech by Gene C. Young, MLK Scholarships will be awarded during the banquet and local individuals will be honored for outstanding community service.

Tickets for the banquet are $25 for adults and $15 for all students. For ticket information, contact Angela Mosley Monts at 479-575-2812 or the university Office of Affirmative Action, 479-575-4019. Sponsorship opportunities are available for companies and organizations. For more information, contact Danielle L. Wood, 479-575-4825 or sponsornwamlk@yahoo.com.

Following the events on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the celebration moves primarily to the University of Arkansas campus.

On Tuesday, Jan. 20, a large-screen television will be set up in the Connections Lounge of the Arkansas Union from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. so campus community members can watch the inauguration of President Barack Obama. 

At 4:30 that afternoon Dean Cynthia Nance will present a lecture in the E.J. Ball Courtroom. A reception will follow the lecture.

At 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, Judge Marion Humphrey will give a lecture in Giffels Auditorium in Old Main. A reception will follow the lecture.

With the exception of the Recommitment Banquet, all of these events are free, and the public is invited.

An ongoing event that is part of the celebration is the Blankets for Warmth campaign. The Sam M. Walton College of Business is partnering with the university department of intercollegiate athletics and the Multicultural Center to collect new and used new blankets or monetary donations to purchase blankets. The blankets will be donated to several nonprofit organizations that provide services to the homeless, senior citizens and to abused and neglected women and children. The campaign runs Jan. 21-30, with a kick-off event scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22.

Additional events continue through Jan. 31. A full schedule of events is listed below:

 

Martin Luther King Boulevard Dedication Ceremony
Thursday, Jan. 15
3 p.m.
Location: Razorback Road and the former Sixth Street
Sponsored by NWA MLK Planning Committee and City of Fayetteville

Community Service Project
Saturday, Jan. 17
9 a.m.
Meeting Location: St. James Baptist Church, 115 S. Willow St.
Sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity

Service of Praise and Reflection
Saturday, Jan. 17
7 p.m.
Location: Sequoyah United Methodist Church, 1910 N. Old Wire Rd.
Sponsored by NWA MLK Planning Committee

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Service
Sunday, Jan. 18
3 p.m.
St. James Baptist Church, 115 S. Willow St.
Sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. & NWA MLK Planning Committee

King Team Community Service Program

Youth Prayer Breakfast
Monday, Jan. 19
8 a.m.
Location:  Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House, 491 N. Razorback Rd.