Each year, during the month of January, the University of Pennsylvania and our surrounding communities come together to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The commemoration reminds us of our interdependence and reaffirms our commitment to the betterment of our communities through civility and service.

Opening our doors to embrace programming and visitors dedicated to realizing Dr. King's vision transforms the campus. Sharing our strengths and diversity as we commemorate Dr. King has an impact on the University that continues to be felt across campus and the Philadelphia community.

A Message from the Chair of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Executive Planning Committee:

Within an ancient sacred text, “The Husia” it is stated “The greatest good is the good that is most shared”. In celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with our university wide and community supported commemorative symposium, a great deal of good is being shared. For Dr. King understood that humanity is a shared experience when he wrote, "we are tied together in the single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality.” Within these modern times we are challenged by social ills in which some believe they are isolated from. Much in our culture highlights the individual. Yet there remains a need for the greatest good to be shared. A huge cry coming from inside our society is calling. Now is the time for our greatest good to shine out and touch as many as possible. Now is the time to begin at least thinking about loving our neighbor as ourselves. Now is the time for us to deeply consider Dr. King’s words, “Injustice anywhere is a threat of justice everywhere.” So accept the University of Pennsylvania’s invitation to participate within our Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium on Social Change beginning, January 13th and ending February 3, 2012. 

All MLK Symposium events are free and open to the public.  They include workshops, discussions, panels, lectures, performances, special presentations, award ceremonies, interfaith programs and documentary film screenings. Our annual MLK symposium has expanded to include a wider focus on social justice overall, as well as issues based inequality. We’re addressing the social issues that face our nation – everything from the Occupy movement and how it relates to the Civil Rights movement, helping single mothers, educational choice and employment discrimination against formerly convicted persons, to how young Black men today can learn from older men, and ending homelessness in America.

The centerpiece of the annual MLK Symposium here at Penn is the Day of Service activities, Monday, Jan. 16, which begins with a breakfast for volunteers at 8:30 a.m. inside Houston Hall.  Participants will be involved with a variety of community service projects until 2 p.m.  The Day of Service will end with a candlelight vigil procession from the W.E.B. DuBois College House, located at 39th and Walnut streets, to remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at 7 p.m.

Other key events during the MLK Symposium include the 11th annual MLK Lecture in Social Justice featuring Donna Brazile, the first African-American woman to manage a presidential campaign and veteran Democratic political strategiest; the Interfaith Program and Awards Commemoration with guest speaker Eboo Patel, the founder of Interfaith Youth Core; and “Jazz for King,” an evening of entertainment featuring jazz music and poetry readings.

A listing of events is available at http://www.upenn.edu/aarc/mlk/calendar_mlk.htm.

Respectfully Submitted
Robert Carter
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Symposium Executive Committee Co-Chair