Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

2013 Celebration Honors Mary Brown, Features Smokey Robinson

This year, Georgetown University’s annual Let Freedom Ring Initiative honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., through a series of academic, artistic and extracurricular programs that examine King’s life and work.  All are invited to participate in these events.

At this year's Let Freedom Ring Celebration, the John Thompson, Jr., "Legacy of a Dream" Award was given to Mary Brown, executive director and co-founder of Life Pieces to Masterpieces, an organization that provides opportunities to help empower African-American youth in Washington, D.C.  Special musical guest, Smokey Robinson, performed with the Let Freedom Ring Choir. 

For more information on this year's Celebration, check out our video and story.

You can also view a video of the performance on the Kennedy Center web site.

2013 Celebration Theme

This year, Georgetown’s MLK Week activities shine a special spotlight on Dr. King’s iconic "Letter from Birmingham Jail." The letter, which marks its 50th anniversary in 2013, emphasizes a call to justice through nonviolence, noting famously, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Georgetown pays homage to this during the week through various performances and activities. Throughout January, a number of Georgetown professors will be participating in our Teach the Letter Initiative, through which they will creatively incorporate the Letter into their classroom curricula.

The full text of Dr. King’s "Letter from Birmingham Jail" can be found here.
 

Celebration Schedule 2013

Saturday, January 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Georgetown MLK Day of Community Service

• For more information, visit the Center for Social Justice website here.

Sunday, January 20, 6 p.m. – “Let Freedom Ring” Celebration at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

• For more information, visit the Kennedy Center website here.

Wednesday, January 23, 7 p.m. – Georgetown MLK spiritual event, Dahlgren Chapel

• Featuring Reverend Matthew Watley, Executive Minister and Managing Minister, Reid Temple A.M.E. Church; and the Georgetown University Gospel and Liturgical Choirs

Thursday, January 24, 4 to 6 p.m. – Student, Faculty and Staff Reflections, Copley Formal Lounge

• Featuring reflections by Ricardo Ortiz, Associate Professor, Department of English; Jonalyn Ware-Greene (C’92), Associate Vice President for Student Housing and Facilities; and current students

Friday, January 25, 4 to 6 p.m. – Performance event by Dr. Yvonne Singh (C’82), ICC Auditorium

• Featuring Georgetown alumna Yvonne Singh in a one-woman performance of Zora. The event examines the life and work of Zora Neale Hurston and how it relates to Dr. King’s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." 

Nonviolent Conflict Intervention Advanced Training Workshop

In honor of the message of nonviolence preached by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Georgetown University’s Program on Justice and Peace (JUPS) will be hosting a full-day advanced training in nonviolent protection and intervention on Friday, January 18, 2013.

In this workshop, participants will learn and practice the primary strategies and skills that constitute “the force more powerful” that nonviolence can be.

This workshop will be largely experiential and learning-by-doing. The skills learned can be modified and applied in all facets of life, including university campus life scenarios. Particular attention will be paid to:

• interpersonal conflict scenarios
  
• meanings/misconceptions/methods of nonviolence; and
  
• how peace teams use these methods, domestically and internationally, in the non-partisan prevention and transformation of violence.

The training is led by David Grant whose experience includes leadership roles in the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, The Listening Project and Nonviolent Peaceforce. David will be assisted by adjunct Professor Eli McCarthy of the JUPS Program and DC Peace Team.

The training workshop is for students, faculty, and staff members of Georgetown University and is designed for a maximum 20 participants. Space is available on an RSVP basis. Participants are asked to commit to the entire 8-hour session. Lunch will be provided; participants are encouraged to bring their own snacks and beverages.

Note: This workshop will go significantly beyond the Basic Training in NVCI offered in October at Georgetown. The basic training is not a pre-requisite for participation in the advanced training.

To reserve your spot, please send an email including your NetId and campus affiliation to Maggie Ferrato at maf89@georgetown.edu.
 

Legacy of a Dream Award

Each year during the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration week, the University presents The John Thompson Legacy of a Dream Award to an individual or organization whose contributions to community service or social justice reflect the values and ideals of Dr. King.

Recipients

• 2013 - Mary Brown, Life Pieces to Masterpieces

• 2012 - Professor Clarence Jones

• 2011 - Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery

• 2010 - Dikembe Mutombo, Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, Inc.

• 2009 - Marian Wright Edelman, Children's Defense Fund

• 2008 - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

• 2007 - Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS

• 2006 - Mrs. Rosa Parks (posthumous)

• 2005 - Colin and Alma Powell

• 2004 - William H. Gray III, president and CEO, UNCF

• 2003 - Coach John Thompson, Georgetown University Men's Basketball (1972-1999)