31 years ago when the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration at the Carrier Dome was inaugurated there was a presence in New York State of The Martin Luther King Institute which spearheaded efforts across the state to keep Dr. King’s legacy alive.
There were workshops, speakers; at one time there was a Civil Rights Camp where you could meet some of the architects of The March on Washington, Montgomery Bus Boycott. Events at the Edmund Pettus Bridge where in 1965 peaceful demonstrators were blocked by mounted Troopers with teargas, firehoses and dogs.
In the decades since the active participation of the State of New York receded, Syracuse University continued their annual tribute which has continued as the largest event of its kind on a college campus in the nation.
Not only does this event involve the participation of Syracuse University the event features a community-wide celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Saturday January 30th (Location TBA check website) Martin Luther King Jr. Syracuse University Celebration Website
Marc Lamont Hill 2016 Martin Luther King Celebration Keynote Speaker January 31st at the Carrier Dome
Marc Lamont Hill, Distinguished Professor of African American Studies at Morehouse College and a leading journalistic voice in social justice, will be the keynote speaker for the 31st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at the University on Jan. 31, 2016. The yearly MLK Celebration at the Carrier Dome is the largest University-sponsored event in the United States to honor King’s legacy.
Hill serves as host of HuffPost Live and BET News, as well as a political contributor for CNN. He is the former host of the nationally syndicated television show “Our World” on Black Enterprise and political contributor to Fox News Channel. An award-winning journalist, Hill has received numerous awards from the National Association of Black Journalists, GLAAD and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.
The MLK Celebration not only includes the event at the Carrier Dome. It’s a weekend filled with activities and community-wide involvement organized by the City of Syracuse, the University and the MLK committee. On Saturday, Jan. 30, there will be the community event which is a day of educational workshops and recreational activities, as well as an awards ceremony for K-12 students.
On Sunday, Jan. 31, dinner precedes the program at 4:30 p.m., with doors opening at 4 p.m. Tickets for employees, staff and the general public will be sold through the Schine Box Office, and are available on an individual basis ($30) or in blocks of 10 ($300). Cash, credit or interdepartmental ID may be used. New this year: all tickets are for general seating.
Martin Luther King Celebration Student Speaker 2016: Danielle Reed
Danielle Reed is a senior from Atlanta, Georgia with a double major in Spanish Language, Literature & Culture and African American Studies. This year she returns from a semester abroad in Madrid, where she filmed her first documentary, Black en Spain, which investigates the experiences of people of the African Diaspora living in Spain. Reed is an aspiring journalist who interned at Time Warner Cable News in Syracuse last summer through the T. Howard Foundation, and currently reports for Citrus TV News on campus. Known as a student activist through her leadership and involvement in different student movements related to Syracuse University and social justice issues. Reed is an active member in the Syracuse community, having worked at the Community Folk Art Center and lead efforts to re-establish The Black Voice, a campus publication that was founded in 1968. Before graduating in May, she hopes to debut, Black en Spain, on campus and in the community this February.
Saturday, January 30: A Community-wide celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. and his commitment to American Civil Rights and Social Justice.
On Saturday, January 30, 2016 from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. there will be a Community Celebration . This is a community-wide celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his commitment to American Civil Rights and social justice. The day will include a series of workshops, performances, information, Maker Hall fun, and recognizing Youth Unsung Heroes.
This event has been designed to enrich the Syracuse Community’s understanding and appreciation for civic engagement with an educational experience focusing on diversity and civic good. Your assistance as a volunteer will assist to foster relationships between Syracuse University and the City of Syracuse Community by providing a fun-filled day with an educational experience.
Youth Unsung Hero & Performers
For the second half of the event from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m., the committee provides entertainment, highlight and recognize young individuals from grades K-12, with the Youth Unsung Hero Award.
Recognized at the Community Celebration on January 17, 2015; the awardee’s name will be printed in the program of the Dr. King Dinner Celebration held at the Carrier Dome on Sunday, January 31, 2016
For more information on the Community Celebration contact Marissa L. Willingham at mlwill07@syr.edu or 315-443-9676
