When Celeste Thomas, student advisor for multicultural services and athletics at Eastern Mennonite University, began coordinating the campus events for The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Week last year, she had a clear goal: It should be a celebration. She and the planning committee focused all the events directly on lifting up King’s life, accomplishments and legacy.
While the past year has brought numerous challenges in race relations in the United States, particularly for the African-American community, Thomas says it is more important than ever to celebrate the progress that has been made and those who continue to work for good.
“We’re in a struggle, but struggle produces positive things,” Thomas says. “It’s about keeping that hope that things will look different, which means there is work we have to do. This year’s celebration will look at doing some of that work. We want to look at how to incorporate Dr. King’s ideals into everyday living. We’re all called to be part of that.”
This year’s theme, drawn from the movement that has grown around the United States, is “Black Lives Matter.” Events during the Jan. 13-18 celebration will include a service project, a “barbershop talk” at Tyrone’s Barbershop in Harrisonburg, a community church service and a chapel celebration, diversity training and a solidarity march.
The barbershop talk, which will afford an opportunity to talk in a working barbershop with “seasoned men” who have seen the changes over the decades, should be a particular highlight, Thomas says, along with the community church service on Sunday, Jan. 17, featuring The Rev. Derrick Parson of Richmond, Virginia.
Parson, a former Marine with service in Germany, West Africa and Iraq, is the pastor of Providence United Methodist Church. During his 23 years of ministry, Parsons served in Harrisonburg as director of the Wesley Foundation at James Madison University for five years and as associate pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church for two years.
Students are taking primary leadership for an “intersectional diversity” training led by Hermelinda Cortes of the progressive Southerners on New Ground community organizing group, which will also provide preparation for the solidarity march two days later.
Sponsors of the events include Multicultural and International Student Services, Campus Ministries, Black Student Union, gospel choir and YPCA (Y-Serve).
Schedule of Events
Wednesday, Jan. 13
8 p.m. Free movie showing and talk back, “Selma.” (S-106, Suter Science Center)
Thursday, Jan. 14
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Mix-it-up lunch day, offering conversations with people from different backgrounds (Northlawn Dining Hall)
Friday, Jan. 15
5 p.m. Service project in Harrisonburg’s Northeast neighborhood
Saturday, Jan. 16
10-11:30 a.m. Barbershop talk (Tyrone’s Barbershop, 2 S. Main St., Harrisonburg). Transportation will be provided from the front of the University Commons 15-20 minutes before the event.
11:30 a.m. Barbershop debriefing lunch (Northlawn Dining Hall)
2 p.m. Intersectional diversity training, led by Hermelinda Cortes of Southerners on New Ground (Strite Conference Room, Campus Center)
Sunday, Jan. 17
11 a.m. Community church service with Rev. Derrick Parson, pastor of Providence United Methodist Church in Richmond, Virginia (Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 184 Kelley St., Harrisonburg). Transportation will be provided, departing the Campus Center at 10:30 a.m.
1 p.m. Community lunch for church service attendees (John Wesley United Methodist Church, 435 Sterling St., Harrisonburg)
Monday, Jan. 18
10-10:15 a.m. Black Lives Matter solidarity march (starting at EMU’s Thomas Plaza)
10:15-11:15 a.m. MLK Chapel celebration with Rev. Derrick Parson (Lehman Auditorium)
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. After-chapel talk back about Black Lives Matter (Common Grounds coffeehouse)
For more information, contact planning committee co-chair Celeste Thomas, 540-432-4458 or celeste.thomas@emu.edu.