Dr. Mark McCloud, vice chancellor for access and engagement at the University of Tennessee at Martin, will be the keynote speaker at a program at Discovery Park of America in Union City honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The program will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 19 – the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday – in Dinosaur Hall and is scheduled to last one hour. UT Martin first lady Rafielle Freeman will emcee the program. The program is free and open to the public.
Discovery Park of America Chief Executive Officer Scott Williams will provide opening remarks, followed by a performance from the newly-formed Discovery Park Community Choir. The winners of the DPA student essay competition will be announced, and McCloud will deliver his keynote address.
Following the program in Dinosaur Hall from noon to 2 p.m. will be civil rights activities for young learners. These hands-on activities are inspired by three of King’s famous quotes, encouraging creativity, reflection and learning through art and storytelling.
At 1 p.m. in the Tennessee Room at Discovery Park of America, “Contemporaries of King” will provide information about key civil rights figures from the mid-20th century, including James Baldwin, Fred Hampton and Malcolm X. This presentation will demonstrate the diversity of voices that shaped the civil rights movement.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated on the third Monday of January and has been a federal holiday since 1986. King was born Jan. 15, 1929, and was a prominent voice in favor of nonviolent activism for civil rights.
Since 2001, UT Martin has hosted a month-long event celebrating the drive for civil rights, the only month-long civil rights celebration in the nation held at a university. This year’s event, recently rebranded as ENTICE – Evolving Narratives: Tennessee Initiative for Civic Engagement – will be held Feb. 3 through March 10. The schedule of events and speakers will be released at a later date.
For more information about Discovery Park of America, visit discoveryparkofamerica.com. For more information about UT Martin, visit www.utm.edu or call 1-800-829-UTM1 (-8861).
PHOTO: Dr. Mark McCloud, vice chancellor for access and engagement, is shown speaking during I Heart UTM Week last April. McCloud will be the keynote speaker at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day program Jan. 19 at Discovery Park of America.
