Appearance by Martin Luther King's nephew highlights MLK Day activities at Niagara University

Niagara University will present a full slate of activities on Monday, Jan. 16, in observance of the federal holiday that marks the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The event schedule, which includes community service projects, mural displays, voter registration services and lectures on social justice, is highlighted by a keynote speech delivered by the Rev. Dr. Derek Barber King Sr., nephew of the late civil rights icon.

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Sustainable Sandals Service Activity

Niagara University's Institute for Civic Engagement is hosting a service-learning activity to support the Sustainable Sandals project, which annually distributes hundreds of thousands of gently worn sandals from the Cave of the Winds to impoverished areas across the globe. Volunteers, including a group from Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara, will process the sandals in the front gym of the Kiernan Center. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. For more information, call 716-205-0074. 

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Martin Luther King Jr. Fact & Photo Exhibition

Bisgrove Hall's Glynn Family Atrium will be decorated with an assortment of posters and images highlighting pertinent facts relating to Dr. Martin Luther King and his legacy.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Voter Registration

Providing all people, regardless of color, with the right (and means) to vote was among Dr. Martin Luther King's successes. To commemorate his efforts, Niagara University is inviting community members to stop by the Gallagher Center to register to vote.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - "What is Your Dream" Mural Display

Students are encouraged to visit the Gallagher Center's lower level to inscribe their personal aspirations for world peace in colorful markers on large posters. The completed posters will be displayed throughout the week in the student union. The event is sponsored by Diversity Advocates.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Peace Quilt Activity

The community is asked to participate in an event spearheaded by Knot for Me, a student-led service organization that knits 9-by-9 squares that are made into quilts for the patients at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Participants will have the opportunity to create their own square, which will then be combined with others, making each quilt unique to its recipient. The care that goes into making each quilt is felt by patients fighting off chronic illnesses. Co-sponsored by Niagara University's Office of Continuing Education and the Institute for Civic Engagement, this Vincentian-inspired initiative will take place on the lower level of the Gallagher Center.

10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. - Managing Daily Conflict: Management vs. Resolution

Dr. Derek Barber King will present a pair of 90-minute workshops in the Gallagher Center's Multipurpose Room. The workshops will address effective ways to resolve daily conflicts. Guests are asked to RSVP to 716-286-8510 or [email protected] if they plan to attend.

Noon to 1 p.m. - Brown Bag Lunch

In association with Niagara University's Brown Bag Lunch Series, attendees will hear a presentation by NU alumna Denise Easterling on connecting civil rights, social justice and the Underground Railroad movement. The event will occur in the Gallagher Center's Multipurpose Room.

12: 15 p.m. - Mass

A Mass in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King will be celebrated in Niagara University's Alumni Chapel.

6:30 p.m. - Keynote Lecture

Dr. Derek Barber King will discuss how "Kingian" (non-violent) principles employed by his uncle more than 40 years ago still apply today. The event takes place at NU's Castellani Art Museum.

A Hoops for History Trivia Contest will be held at 7 p.m. in the Kiernan Center on Tuesday, Jan. 17. The activity invites students to answer questions pertaining to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. For each correct response, students will have the opportunity to make a basket, with prizes given for each made basket.

On Wednesday, Jan. 18, Dr. Julian Hayter, an author and assistant professor of history at Niagara University, will offer a lecture on non-violent passive resistance and civil disobedience. The event will take place at 1:30 p.m. in Room 406 of St. Vincent's Hall.

For more information, contact Niagara University's Office of Multicultural International Students Affairs at 716-286-8510 or [email protected].