UR Celebrates MLK Day with 'The Fierce Urgency of Now' Theme

Community Events Include Family-Friendly Activities and Reflection Opportunities
January 8, 2020

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND —  The University of Richmond will celebrate the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday through a series of events related to the theme of this year’s MLK Day celebration — “The Fierce Urgency of Now.”

The university is closed on MLK Day to allow the campus community to engage in activities reflecting on Dr. King’s legacy.

“The work of Dr. King remains unfinished, and the University of Richmond has committed to thoughtfully considering what his vision means today,” said Glyn Hughes, director of Common Ground and event organizer.

Events open to the public include the following:

Sunday, Jan. 19
Film Screening — Flint: The Poisoning of an American City
1:30 p.m., The Byrd Theatre
This event is free, but registration is requested. The recommended age is 13+.

Monday, Jan. 20
MLK Family Day
11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Modlin Center for the Arts
MLK Family Day provides creative learning opportunities around MLK Day and civil rights history for children ages 2-12. This event is free, but registration is required.

Presentation — A New Day Has Come: What Are We Learning About our Past?
1 p.m., Wilton Center Multifaith Room
Lauranett Lee, a historian and professor of leadership studies who serves on the University of Richmond History and Identity Commission, will share recently released findings about a burial ground on UR campus and the history of the land.

Commemoration Ceremony — “The Fierce Urgency of Now” with keynote address by Pastor Vernon Gordon of Life Church RVA
3:30-5 p.m., Modlin Center for the Arts, Camp Concert Hall
Gordon is the Lead Pastor of The Life Church located in Richmond, Virginia. Launched in 2015, TLC is an outreach driven community dedicated to diversity and innovative discipleship. In addition to pastoring, Vernon also serves on the Virginia Commission for Racial Reconciliation, is a team leader for Lott Carey Foreign Missions Network, and serves on the Board of Directors for Uptick Leadership Network, as well as the Board of Visitors for Duke Divinity School.

More details about UR’s MLK Day celebration are available at richmond.edu/mlk.

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These events are co-sponsored by the Office of Common Ground and the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement and organized by several campus offices.

Media wishing to cover these MLK Day events should contact Sunni Brown at sbrown5@richmond.edu.