Penn
State Abington The following Penn State locations have planned activities to celebrate and commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:
Penn
State Abington
Volunteerism is the theme of this year's observance at the campus, which includes two guest speakers and a Volunteer Fair. State Rep. Lawrence Curry, who participated in the Civil Rights marches in the 1960s, will speak on Jan. 17 about the legacy of Dr. King, and the Rev. Charles Quann, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Pennllyn, will address the spirit of volunteerism. The talks will be held in the Spectrum Roo of the Lares Building.
In addition, there will be a presentation on that day by the Abington Dance Ensemble, under the direction of Kathryn Kearns. Booths representing major volunteer organizations in the Philadelphia area will be in Lares main hallway, beginning at 10 a.m. Ethnic food will be available for lunch for $2, or a donation of canned goods for the homeless.
Penn State DuBois will present "Echoes of the Past," a one-woman play featuring Maxine Maxwell, on Tuesday, Jan. 18, at 7 p.m. in the Hiller Building Auditorium. The play explores the turning points in the lives of five African and African American women of remarkable strength and courage. This dramatic performance takes a look at what it has been like to be black and female over the past 150 years.
Admission is free. For more information, contact the Student Life Office at (814) 375-4766.
Internationally acclaimed poet, activist and lecturer, Sonia Sanchez, will present "Poet as Creator of Social Values" at Penn State Erie on Monday, Jan. 17, at 4 p.m. in the Reed Union Building Commons.
Sanchez is the director of the women's studies program at Temple University and holds the university's Laura Carnell chair in English. In addition to being a contributing editor to Black Scholar and The Journal of African Studies, she has written 14 books, including Homegirls and Handgrenades, winner of an American Book Award in 1985. In 1999 she received the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching in recognition of her commitment to her students. Her presentation is free to the public.
For more information, call (814) 898-6000.
Penn State Harrisburg continues its tradition of offering dramatic historical productions in celebration of the birthday of Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. when it presents "Family Song" on Jan. 17. The noon presentation will be in the Student Center of the Capital Union Building.
"Family Song," a drama with music, traces the lives of four female singers in an African American family from the 1920s to present. As it relates the stories of these women, the drama weaves in benchmarks in black history such as The Harlem Renaissance and Brown vs. the Board of Education. The production features the creative team of Dorothy King, assistant professor of social science, and musical Director Grenoldo Frazier.
Felicia Brown-Haywood will sing and act in the production. She has written the lyrics and music for two songs that will be included.
n Jan. 17-19: Community Service
Penn State New Kensington students will live Dr. King's dream by volunteering their time assisting local agencies in the community.
n Jan. 21: A Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, including a buffet luncheon in the art gallery that will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. The buffet is $6/person. RSVP by Jan. 18 by calling Student Affairs at (724) 334-6062. There will also be a musical performance at 12:30 p.m. in the theatre.
Guest speaker Mary Clemons, executive consultant, 21st Century Staff Development and Consulting, will make remarks on "The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." and an excerpt of his "I Have a Dream" speech will be followed by a musical performance and dramatic skit performed by the Multicultural Club.
Penn State Shenango
Theme: "An Image of Equality, the Reflection of the Dream"
The Rev. Angel DeLa Cruz, pastor of Cedar Avenue Church of God in Sharon, Pa., will speak at noon, Monday, Jan. 18 in the Forker Laboratory Forum.
In addition, student winners from the Second Annual Essay Contest for area school children in ninth through 12th grades will read their essays to the audience. Students were asked to answer the question: "With all the violence in today's society, how would you promote Dr. King's message of non-violence?"
For more information, call the Cultural Diversity Office at (724) 983-2846.
"Martin Luther King Jr.: A Trumpet of Conscience" is the theme of the 25th annual Forum on Black Affairs Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet, scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, in the President's Hall at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel on the University Park campus.
The theme was chosen to reflect the title of King's book The Trumpet of Conscience, a collection of radio transcripts describing King's opposition to the Vietnam War posthumously published in 1968.
The evening's activities include a theatrical presentation related to civil rights and King's contributions to this movement, as well as the presentation of the Sterling Brown Memorial Scholarship, named for the professor, scholar and poet who had an impact on the lives of many of today's scholars and poets.
Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, and organizers recommend purchasing tickets early. Tickets are $22 for adults, $12 for children age 12 and under, and $250 for a reserved table for 10. A portion of the cost of each table will go toward the Forum on Black Affairs Scholarship Fund. E-mail or call Michael Phillips for tickets and table reservations at map5@psu.edu or (814) 863-1411. Individual tickets are also on sale at the Paul Robeson Cultural Center in the HUB.
The Forum on Black Affairs also is seeking nominations for its 2000 Humanitarian Service Award, to be given at the Jan. 15 banquet. The award was created in 1985 to honor a person who has provided outstanding service to the African American citizens of Pennsylvania, especially at Penn State and in the Centre County region. Such service includes leadership in office, programs or organizations that develop or implement policies impacting African Americans.
To nominate a candidate, submit a letter not more than two pages in length that describes the nominee's credentials and qualifications for the award. Attach any relevant supporting materials, such as newspaper and magazine articles, by Dec. 17 to W. Terrell Jones, vice provost for educational equity, 314 Old Main, University Park, Pa. 16802; telephone (814) 865-5906.