Martin Luther King Jr. Week Monday- Thursday, January 29 - February 1, 2007 2007 Schedule of Events   Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King's Life and Legacy through a Series of Events 21st Annual Celebration The University of Rhode Island Multicultural Center, Office of the President, Division of Student Affairs, the Office of the Chaplains, the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, the Memorial Union, the Cognitive Dissidents, Anointed, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, the Department of Political Science, the African and Afro-American Studies Program will join forces to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Since 1986, the university community has observed the anniversary of the national MLK holiday through lectures, discussions, videos, musical performances and other activities.  While the official holiday is commemorated on the third Monday of January, the University of Rhode Island celebration customarily takes place on the fourth Monday of the month to ensure maximum participation.  All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday |

Monday, January 29, 2007

Who: Co-sponsored by Anointed, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Office of the Chaplains, and the Multicultural Center.

What: Interfaith Service

When: 7:00-9:30 pm

Where: Multicultural Center, Hardge Forum, Room 101

A service in which students from diverse religious communities come together to share with each other readings, stories, prayers, meditations, testimonies, songs, or dances from their respective sacred traditions to celebrate the life and work of Dr. King.

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Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Who: Co-sponsored by the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, the NAACP, the African and African-American Studies Program, and the Multicultural Center.

What: Film : " Force More Powerful"

When: 4:00pm - 5:30pm

Where: Multicultural Center, Hardge Forum, Room 101

Come join us for a viewing and discussion for this film about the history of nonviolence.

FILM: "A FORCE MORE POWERFUL: A CENTURY OF NONVIOLENT CONFLICT" - Part 1, "We Were Warriors" (1999, 2000, 30 minutes). One of a series of six documentaries describing the use of nonviolence and nonviolent social movements in altering power relationships, in transforming governance, and improving the quality of life for previously excluded populations among societies around the world, such as the United States, India, South Africa, Poland, Chile, and Denmark, this film discusses the campaign to desegregate the downtown business district in Nashville (TN) during 1960 - an initiative regarded by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as a model for the civil rights movement. Among the heroes of the Nashville campaign are the Rev. James Lawson, Jr., who studied Gandhi's lifestyle, discipline, and tactics in Nagpur, India, and organized the intensive nonviolence training workshops for college students that led to success; Diane Nash, one of the most remarkable college student leaders of the era; and Dr. Bernard Lafayette, Jr., now Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence and Director, URI Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, and one of the great remaining leaders of the civil rights movement.

For faculty who wish to incorporate "A Force More Powerful" into their course assignments, additional online resources are available at:

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Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Who: Co-sponsored by the Office of the Chaplains, the Center for the Nonviolence and Peace Studies, and the Multicultural Center.

What: Unity Luncheon with keynote address from Swami Yogatmananda, from Vedanta Society Providence.

When: 12:00pm - 1:30pm 

Where: Multicultural Center, Hardge Forum, Room 101

Keynote address by Swami Yogatmananda, Minister, Vedanta Society of Rhode Island. Born in 1953 in India, Swami Yogatmananda completed his Masters in Mathematics at the age of 23. Subsequently he joined the monastic life at the Ramakrishna Order in 1976 and took his vows in 1986. After serving at Ramakrishna centers in India, he came to the United States in 2001 to serve as Minister of the Vedanta Society. In addition to conducting Sunday services, he leads weekly study classes and organizes spiritual retreats. He also preaches regularly at the Vedanta Society of Massachusetts in Boston, and lectures in India.

At this year's Luncheon, the University's Fourth Annual MLK Peace Maker Award will be presented to a student, staff member, faculty, or a student organization whose goals and activities express their commitment to the pursuit of peace and nonviolence.

To attend the luncheon, please RSVP to Mailee Kue at maileekue@uri.edu or call 874-5829.  Seating is limited so please RSVP early!

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Thursday, February 1, 2007

Who: Co-sponsored by the URI Cognitive Dissidents, the Memorial Union and the Multicultural Center

What: Civil Rights Songfest

When: 12:00 - 1:00 pm

Where: Memorial Union, Main Lounge, across from the Information Desk.

An interactive workshop led by two URI faculty - Drs. Steve Wood of Communication Studies, and Paul de Mesquita of Psychology- on guitars, inviting participants to learn the meaning of the civil rights movement by singing its songs.

Who: Co-sponsored by the URI Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies and the Multicultural Center