Auburn University to host King Week events Jan. 19-23

Auburn University will host a week-long tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monday through Friday, Jan. 19-23, to commemorate the late civil rights icon's life and legacy. Events throughout the week will reflect the theme, "Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere." In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Auburn University campus will be closed Monday, Jan. 19.

An AuburnServes Volunteer Fair at the Student Center Jan. 16, from 10 a.m. to noon, will precede the King Week events beginning Jan. 19. Sponsored by University Outreach, the program will provide information about opportunities for community involvement for students, faculty and staff. For additional information, contact Joyce Thomas-Vinson at (334) 844-5117.

On Monday, Jan 19, Clifton Davis, an actor, singer, composer, producer and minister best known for his five-year run as the Rev. Reuben Gregory on the popular television series, "Amen," will be the keynote speaker at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Scholarship Breakfast at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center.

The scholarship breakfast is sponsored the National Forum for Black Administrators – East Alabama Chapter, Auburn's Office of the Vice President for University Outreach, and Access and Community Initiatives in the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. For ticket availability, call (334) 844-5042.

On Thursday, Jan. 22, Access and Community Initiatives' Voices of Freedom Series will present an "Evening With Galen Abdur-Razzaq" at 6 p.m. in The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center auditorium. Razzaq is a flutist and spoken word artist who has performed for audiences at home and abroad for more than 30 years and whose work is cherished by people around the globe. He says colleges and universities are among his favorite places to perform due to his affinity for teaching.

"It's all a learning process and I love to teach," Razzaq said. "Teaching is my thing. If I'm not teaching, then I'm not learning, so I'm kind of a selfish guy because I better teach in order for me to learn more. So that's what I really enjoy. It's all reciprocal."

In addition to showcasing his seemingly effortless musicianship, Razzaq takes time between songs to deliver humorous and insightful spoken pieces, riffing on clichéd phrases that use the word "jazz," the debate about who first introduced jazz music and more. Seating for the event is limited. For ticket information, call (334) 844-5042.

A poetry reading Friday, Jan. 23, at 12:30 p.m. at the Open Air Forum area on the west side of the Draughon Library will feature BlackPoetsSpeakOut. Participants will read original and published poetry with justice themes. The event is sponsored by the Multicultural Center, College of Liberal Arts' Creative Writing and the Poetry Foundation.

The week's formal activities will conclude Friday, Jan. 23, with a community justice forum at 6:30 p.m. at the Harris Center, 425 Perry St. in Auburn, titled "Bridging the Divide: Juvenile Justice and the Community." The justice forum fosters an exchange of information and views on issues relating to juvenile justice and community building.

The purpose of the forum is to afford individuals, community-based organizations and public service agency professionals an opportunity to share information and views and to respond to the question: How can we help youth see their role and responsibility in building a safer and more civil community? The event is sponsored by Access and Community Initiatives, a unit of the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs and the East Alabama Chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators.

For more information about Dr. Martin Luther King Week activities at Auburn go online to www.auburn.edu/aukingweek.