Behrend Honors King's Legacy

Monday, Jan. 21

Every year in the city of Erie, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy is proudly celebrated by the community with grand marches and personal testimonies. This time around, the commemoration is going even further by turning King's fight for equality into a four-day event to educate and embrace the impactful changes that shaped today's society.

The staff and students of Penn State Behrend present "Your Life My Life: One Horizon" which will consist of activities, dances, networking, and film to encourage conversation about contemporary race relations.

On Monday, you can be a part of the traditional march that will take place in downtown Erie at 11 a.m. The campus community of Penn State will be partaking in the righteous walk and also hosting a Campus Family Gathering afterwards that is a part of the One Horizon event.

On the following day at noon, there will be a screening of the 1993 documentary At The River I Stand in the McGarvey Commons Auditorium. The film explores the challenging relationship between the economy and civil rights while following the rise and fall of Dr. King. The director and producer of the film, Dr. Sheena C. Howard, will be present for a Q&A segment after the credits roll.

Beginning Wednesday at 9 a.m., the program "Yes, We C.A.N. (Yes We Connect and Network)" will allow students from Penn State and our local high schools to interact and share their experiences and endeavors. This fine opportunity opens a portal for conversation amongst students that will center around ideas while pushing unity.

The commemoration takes Thursday off, but picks right back up on Friday with "Living The Dream," wherein pupils from East Middle School will take a trip to Behrend to engage in numerous activities alongside college students. On this day, they will be educated on modern African dances and their roots.

"Your Life My Life" is aided by multiple social organizations such as the Association of Black Collegians, Multi-Cultural Council, the Office of Admissions, and many more. The MLK holiday will be jumping and thriving while promoting the significance of our history and the prospects of tomorrow. — Charles Brown

For a comprehensive listing of events and times, visit behrend.psu.edu // 4701 College Dr. // Free