Celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. takes more than just a day. At Penn, it takes two weeks.
The symposium honoring the late civil rights icon will run from Monday to Jan. 27th. The overarching theme centers on community service and tolerance -- two concepts for which King advocated.
"My vision for this year was to get as many students involved as possible," said event chairwoman Afi Roberson Heywood. "We achieved that by having the students plan and coordinate events."
Indeed, students from organizations across campus, from the Black Student League to Hillel, got involved.
Heywood's vision is embodied in the calendar for this year's symposium, which includes movie screenings, book drives, painting banners with children, and even a visit from TV personality Star Jones.
A discussion on race relations will be conducted by the Christian Association, Penn Hillel, Muslim Student Association, Black Graduate and Professional Student Assembly and La Casa Latina on Tuesday.
The events center heavily on giving back to the community. Students can participate by creating comfort packages for the needy or cleaning up local sites in West Philadelphia.
Graduate student Mahlet Mesfin, chair of the Black Graduate And Professional Student Assembly, has organized a breakfast event for Monday.
"It was a rewarding experience because so many students from different committees were involved," Mesfin said.
Renowned speakers are also frequenting the events. Keynote speaker Phile Chionesu, who founded the Million Women March, will be speaking at the free continental breakfast on Monday, while peace activist Bilal Qayyum will be speaking at the Carriage House on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
