CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State University will celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a two-week celebration Jan. 9-27 at multiple locations throughout Corvallis.

Activities are open to the public and most are free. OSU will cancel classes on Monday, Jan. 16, to allow students, faculty and staff to observe the celebration and join the 24th-annual Peace Breakfast, which starts at 7:30 a.m. in the Memorial Union Ballroom on the OSU campus.

Tickets will be available at the door, but organizers advise patrons to buy tickets in advance from the MU business office, as the event regularly sells out. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $6 for students and children age 5 and under will be admitted free of charge. Call 541-737-4381 for more information.

Featured events at the breakfast include the presentation of several community service awards, and later the OSU community will embark on various day-long service projects in the community. For information on any of the projects, contact the OSU Community Service Center at 541-737-3041.

Also on Jan. 16, the Ivy Reading AKAdemy is holding a day-long workshop at the Black Cultural Center to educate and engage elementary and middle-school students. The event is open to all elementary and middle-school students in the Corvallis community.

A candlelight walk and vigil are scheduled for that evening. The walk starts at 6:30 p.m. at the OSU Black Cultural Center, 25th Street and Monroe Avenue, with the procession ending with a program and vigil at the north steps of the MU. Afterward, a roundtable discussion will be held at the MU Leadership Center, focusing on how to make Corvallis a more inclusive place for people of all races and ethnicities.

Other ongoing MLK events include a "Vintage Images of Freedom Marches" art exhibit, which includes photos and news clips from local 1960s freedom marches. The exhibit will be on display at the MU Concourse through February.

Another exhibit at the concourse, "USA and Israel: Building Better Bridges to Better Understanding," is part of an artist exchange. Work from Beer-Shiva Israel will be on display at the MU through February, while work from five Oregon artists will be exhibited in Israel.

"A Thousand Words," an MLK art exhibit showcasing the work of OSU graduate student Lisa Taylor, will be on display in MU 211 from Jan. 13-20.

"Sign the Pledge," to reaffirm support for nonviolent social change, equality and justice, freedom and peace, takes place at the MU Student Lounge, Jan. 13-27.

Other MLK Celebration events include:

Thursday, Jan. 12

7 p.m.: "Building a Beloved Community," event featuring Kathleen Sadaat as keynote speaker and including a performance by the Rainbow Dance theater, as well as the Citizen's Martin Luther King, Jr. Award presentation. Hosted by the City of Corvallis Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission. Majestic Theatre.

Friday, Jan. 13

3 p.m.: Two-hour children's celebration: 5 p.m., birthday party for Martin Luther King, Jr., at the Black Cultural Center, 2325 NW Monroe Ave.; 7 p.m., "Awakenings," a video series detailing the civil rights struggle, accompanied by an open discussion, also at the Black Cultural Center.

Monday, Jan. 16

7:30 a.m.: Peace Breakfast, along with public service awards presentations. Tickets are $10, $6 for students with children under 5 admitted free (MU Ballroom). Followed by various community service events, a day-long workshop for local youth, as well as a candlelight vigil and public roundtable discussion.

Tuesday, Jan. 17

Noon: "Where's My 40 Acres and Other Broken Promises," two-hour panel discussion focusing on historical and cultural perspectives of relationships between major racial/ethnic groups and the U.S. Government, MU Room 206.

5 p.m.: "Building Bridges Across Cultures," an interactive workshop and discussion about peace and understanding, MU Room 206.

6 p.m.: "Fighting Back" video series detailing the civil rights struggle, open discussion, Black Cultural Center, 2325 NW Monroe Ave.

Wednesday, Jan. 18

6 p.m.: "Ain't Scared of Your Jails," a video series detailing the civil rights struggle, open discussion, Black Cultural Center, 2325 NW Monroe Ave.

7 p.m.: "An Evening of Poetry and Song," participants are invited to present poetry or songs that pertain to social issues, injustice, discrimination, racism, peace, freedom, equality and justice, MU Leadership Center.

Thursday, Jan. 19

3 p.m.: "Different Paths to Resistance," a session exploring the influence that the black civil rights movement had on the genesis of other civil rights movements, MU Room 208.

6 p.m.: An oratory contest addressing social issues will be held. Sign up for the contest by Jan. 15. Winners will receive scholarships and prizes. MU Lounge. For more information contact Lauren Smith at [email protected].

Friday, Jan. 20

2 p.m.: Interfaith prayer service with community members from different spiritual, religious, and philosophical backgrounds, MU Room 208.

6 p.m.: "No Easy Walk," a video series detailing the civil rights struggle, open discussion. Black Cultural Center, 2325 NW Monroe Ave.

10 p.m.: All university dance celebration, "Wake Up! Justice Delayed is Justice Denied!" through 2 a.m. Free to all OSU students, please bring a non-perishable food item for donation to the Linn-Benton Food Share, at Club Escape.

Monday, Jan. 23

6 p.m.: "Open Forum: Intercultural Fluency," concerning the social and racial differences that individuals face in our changing communities, MU Lounge.

7 p.m.: "Mississippi: Is This America," a video series detailing the civil rights struggle, open discussion. Black Cultural Center, 2325 NW Monroe Ave.

Tuesday, Jan. 24

6 p.m.: "Rise and Fall of Jim Crow," a two-hour screening of part one and two of a documentary on life for blacks in the segregated South following the Civil War, open discussion following screening, MU Room 208.

Wednesday, Jan. 25

3 p.m. "The Way Home," a film about race, gender, and class in the United States; open discussion following screening, MU Room 208.

6 p.m.: "Bridge to Freedom," a video series detailing the civil rights struggle, open discussion, Black Cultural Center, 2325 NW Monroe Ave.

Thursday, Jan. 26

6 p.m.: "Rise and Fall of Jim Crow," a two-hour screening of part of a documentary on life for blacks in the segregated South following the Civil War, open discussion following screening, MU 208.

Source: 

Terryl Ross, 541-737-4381

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