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Convocation featuring the Virginia Union University Gospel Choir<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/01\/16142602\/EMU0729-1024x683.jpg\")
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Virginia Union University Gospel Choir, which hosted the EMU Chamber Singers at its Richmond campus in October (read about that here<\/a>), traveled to Harrisonburg, Virginia, on Monday to perform a series of songs for Convocation. VUU Choir Director Joel Lester<\/strong> led 13 members of the group in seven soulful and spirited songs that had many in the Lehman Auditorium pews dancing and clapping along. The Chamber Singers joined the VUU Gospel Choir on stage for a performance of “I Need You to Survive” to close out the concert.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn her opening remarks, Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed<\/strong> asked the crowd how they would continue to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King after the holiday passes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n“How will we thrive, especially during a time of unrest and division?” asked Reed, who is EMU’s regional advancement director. “How will we thrive when many of us believe that, as a nation, we are not moving in the direction of peace, justice and equality? How will we thrive when old wounds and racist ways of thinking have reared their evil head? I believe Dr. King would say, ‘We thrive when we stand. We thrive when we break the silence. We thrive when we are caught up with what is right and willing to sacrifice for it.'”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to Reed, city council members Chris Jones and Dany Fleming, as well as members of the local press, were in attendance. Read the Daily News-Record<\/em>‘s front-page coverage of the event here<\/a>. A video recording of Convocation is available to watch on the EMU Facebook page here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSolidarity March<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/01\/16142606\/20240115-March-114-1024x683.jpg\")
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA group of about 20 demonstrators during Monday morning’s Solidarity March left an impression on the snow-covered campus \u2014 in more ways than one \u2014 as they looped around the University Commons track and marched across the grounds to Lehman Auditorium. Carrying posters reading “Keep marching,” “My hope is Black students will thrive on campus \u2014 not just survive” and “Free! At last!” the marchers reflected on the sacrifices made during the Civil Rights Movement and called for further work to promote racial equity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSpeak Out<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/01\/16142619\/20240115-open-mic-262-1024x683.jpg\")
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAt Speak Out, an open mic-styled event that offered an opportunity to share thoughts and feelings about the day, participants recited poems and read from speeches given by Martin Luther King Jr. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
EMU junior Mikayla Pettus<\/strong> (pictured in the top photo) delivered a riveting performance about having a mixed-race identity. As she simulated herself getting ready for the day, putting on makeup and getting her hair ready, a recording of some of the offensive things people might say to someone who is mixed-race played over the speakers. A video recording of Speak Out is available to watch on the EMU Facebook page here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n‘Black & 25 in America’<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/emu-wordpress-multisite-instance-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/43\/2024\/01\/16142614\/20240115-MLK-Day__-010-1024x683.jpg\")
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Virginia Union University Gospel Choir, which hosted the EMU Chamber Singers at its Richmond campus in October (read about that here<\/a>), traveled to Harrisonburg, Virginia, on Monday to perform a series of songs for Convocation. VUU Choir Director Joel Lester<\/strong> led 13 members of the group in seven soulful and spirited songs that had many in the Lehman Auditorium pews dancing and clapping along. The Chamber Singers joined the VUU Gospel Choir on stage for a performance of “I Need You to Survive” to close out the concert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In her opening remarks, Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed<\/strong> asked the crowd how they would continue to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King after the holiday passes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “How will we thrive, especially during a time of unrest and division?” asked Reed, who is EMU’s regional advancement director. “How will we thrive when many of us believe that, as a nation, we are not moving in the direction of peace, justice and equality? How will we thrive when old wounds and racist ways of thinking have reared their evil head? I believe Dr. King would say, ‘We thrive when we stand. We thrive when we break the silence. We thrive when we are caught up with what is right and willing to sacrifice for it.'”<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to Reed, city council members Chris Jones and Dany Fleming, as well as members of the local press, were in attendance. Read the Daily News-Record<\/em>‘s front-page coverage of the event here<\/a>. A video recording of Convocation is available to watch on the EMU Facebook page here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A group of about 20 demonstrators during Monday morning’s Solidarity March left an impression on the snow-covered campus \u2014 in more ways than one \u2014 as they looped around the University Commons track and marched across the grounds to Lehman Auditorium. Carrying posters reading “Keep marching,” “My hope is Black students will thrive on campus \u2014 not just survive” and “Free! At last!” the marchers reflected on the sacrifices made during the Civil Rights Movement and called for further work to promote racial equity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At Speak Out, an open mic-styled event that offered an opportunity to share thoughts and feelings about the day, participants recited poems and read from speeches given by Martin Luther King Jr. <\/p>\n\n\n\n EMU junior Mikayla Pettus<\/strong> (pictured in the top photo) delivered a riveting performance about having a mixed-race identity. As she simulated herself getting ready for the day, putting on makeup and getting her hair ready, a recording of some of the offensive things people might say to someone who is mixed-race played over the speakers. A video recording of Speak Out is available to watch on the EMU Facebook page here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSolidarity March<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nSpeak Out<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\n‘Black & 25 in America’<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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