The University of Vermont will honor the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. in a series of activities that will launch with a birthday party on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Davis Center atrium.
In the premier event, actor and civil rights activist Danny Glover will partner with his longtime friend, actor and director Felix Justice to present “An Evening with Martin and Langston,” on Tuesday, Jan. 24 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in Ira Allen Chapel. In their performances, Justice portrays King through some of his most powerful speeches and Glover brings to life the words and poetry of Langston Hughes about the African American experience. The program concludes with a question-and-answer session with Glover and Justice. Captioning and sign language services will be provided.
Tickets to the event are free, but limited. They will be available at the Hoffman Information Desk on the 1st floor of the Dudley H. Davis Center during business hours according to the following schedule: Starting Monday, Jan. 16 at 10 a.m., UVM students, faculty and staff may pick up one ticket with UVM ID. On Monday, Jan. 23, tickets are open to the general public, one per person. For more information call (802) 656-8426.
Other community service and cultural programs to commemorate King’s legacy:
Monday, Jan. 23 to Friday, Jan. 27: Campus food drive to benefit the Chittenden County Emergency Food Shelf
Non-perishable food items may be dropped off throughout the week in the Davis Center atrium, Given/Rowell Brickyard, Waterman Building (College St. entrance), Patrick Gym lobby and the Fireplace Lounge in the Living/Learning Center.
Wednesday, Jan. 25: “The Future of Public Health: No Longer Invisible”
This presentation by keynote speaker George Benjamin, M.D., executive director of the American Public Health Association, will be at 5 p.m. in Davis Auditorium, Medical Education Center Pavilion, Fletcher Allen Health Care, immediately followed by a reception in the Rowell Building Brickyard.
Friday, Jan. 27: Carolina Chocolate Drops at the Flynn
With a 2011 Grammy-winning album, Genuine Negro Jig, to their credit, the Carolina Chocolate Drops are bringing back the traditional roots music of black string bands, a sound Rolling Stone described as “dirt-floor dance electricity.” The group, combining guitar and jug with banjo, fiddle and harmonica, have opened for Taj Mahal and been guests on NPR’s Fresh Air and A Prairie Home Companion. They will perform at 8 p.m. at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $15-35, with a 25 percent discount for UVM faculty, staff and students with ID. Purchase tickets through the Flynn Center at www.flynncenter.org.
With the exception of the Flynn Center performance, all events are free and open to the public.
The celebration is organized in collaboration with the chief diversity officer and special assistant to the president for multicultural initiatives.