33rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation

33rd Annual
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation
Beloved Community: Radical Empathy
January 21, 2025

LAST YEAR’S EVENTS 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Celebration
Monday, January 15, 2024  

ALLIOT // FIRST FLOOR LOUNGE // 9 A.M. – 3 P.M.

MLK Convocation Information Table hosted by MOVE
MLK Convocation programs, MOVE service project, food drive for the SMC Food Pantry, Random Acts of Kindness poster project, and more.

DION CENTER // ROY ROOM // 9 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

9 – 9:50 A.M.
Welcoming Remarks with Fr. David Cray, SSE; Christine Dossou ‘25, MLK Jr. Society; Dr. Richard Plumb, SMC President; Dakota Thomas ‘24, SGA President; and Vernita Weller, Student Success Advisor and a Student Reading of Beyond Vietnam: A Time To Break Silence, Dr. King’s 1967 speech at Riverside Church in New York City with Damien Wortheim ‘26 

10 – 11 A.M.
The Fierce Urgency of Teaching the African American Experience, Right Now!  with Jolivette Anderson-Douoning, PhD, Edmundite Fellow in African-American Studies; Dr. Bill Clark, and Winooski High School Dual Enrollment Students 

Dr. Anderson-Douoning, Winooski HS teacher Dr. Clark, and Winooski students will discuss their work in the dual enrollment course taught at the high school. The presentation will highlight students who read Africana Studies: A Survey of Africa and the African Diaspora edited by Mario J. Azevedo and Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein. The accomplishments of this class serve as an example of the Beloved Community and its role in responding to the fierce urgency of teaching Black history to diverse groups of students. 

11:15 A.M. – 12:05 P.M.
Beloved Community, Universal Design, and Mattering: From Values to Action with Rebecca Haslam, PhD, Assistant Professor of Education and Coordinator, Racial Equity & Educational Justice Graduate Certificate Program

This workshop will invite participants to explore Dr. King’s concept of Beloved Community through the lens of universal design for mattering. With a focus on creating the conditions that allow each person to feel valued, supported, and connected at SMC, we’ll talk about the collective care required for us to effectively work together to change the conditions in which bias-based harm and racism occur.  Moving from beliefs and values toward meaningful action individually, collectively, and institutionally, this workshop will encourage participants to become stakeholders in each others’ liberation and collective healing. 

ALLIOT // GREEN MOUNTAIN DINING ROOM // 12:30 – 1:20 P.M.

Musical Celebration with music from Bill Ellis, PhD, Associate Professor of Music and the Saint Michael’s Gospel Choir directed by Vernita Weller, Student Success Advisor 

DION CENTER // MAKERSPACE // 1 – 5 P.M.

MLK Day Creative Space – Button making, shirts, laser cutting, and more. 

DION CENTER // ROY ROOM // 1:45 – 6:30 P.M.

1:45 – 2:35 P.M.
Towards the Development of a Vision of Equity and Justice Framed in Dr. King’s Humanizing Framework with Omara Rivera-Vázquez, PhD, Director of the Center for Equity & Justice

This event will be formatted as a Listening Session to introduce the Institute for Equity and Justice and discuss Dr. King’s teachings as they relate to the work the Center will engage. Members of the campus community will have an opportunity to share their ideas, thoughts, and opinions about:  

• Developing a dream/vision for the Institute for Equity and Justice 
• Types of initiatives the Center should take upon/develop
• Major strengths and assets of the college as they relate to equity and justice work 
• What should be the purpose of the Center? 
• Why is there a fierce urgency to address these issues?  
• What would success look like for the Center? 

2:45 – 3:35 P.M.
The Fierce Urgency of Now Through Student Perspectives with Moderator Sarah M. Childs, Ed.D., Director of the Center for Student Diversity, Empowerment, and Community and student leaders 

4:00 – 5:30 P.M.
Promised on Paper, Pathetic in Practice: Race and the US Constitution Through the Eyes of Dr. King with Traci Griffith, J.D., Racial Justice Program Director, ACLU Massachusetts

The United States Constitution of 1787 sought to “establish Justice…promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty” for all Americans. Yet, time and time again, “liberty for all” seemed to exclude Black and Brown Americans. How can we fulfill the promise of the Constitution and the vision of Dr. King’s Beloved Community?
Sponsored by the Donald J. Sutherland Lecture Series 

5:30 – 6:30 P.M.
MLK Social Hour with food from BIPOC-owned businesses 

Food Drive at the Alliot information table // Please bring your non-perishable food pantry donations to support the SMC Food Pantry.  

CONTINUED MLK CONVOCATION EVENTS:

Tuesday, January 16 // Farrell Room // 10 A.M.
Why Not, and Why Now? Promoting the Black Experience in Outdoor Activities with Ben Morton, Assistant Director, Adventure Sports Center; Eben Widlund, Director, Adventure Sports Center; and Yasamin Gordon, Volunteer Leader for the Vermont Network of Outdoor Afro, a national organization celebrating Black leadership in nature.

Tuesday, January 16 // 2 P.M. // Media Creation Studio, St Edmund’s Hall 215
Edmundite Legacy: Leadership as Learning with Fr. David Cray, SSE; Fr. David Theroux, SSE; Annie Rosello, Development Officer/Communications Coordinator; Heidi St. Peter, Director of Purposeful Learning
The panelists will reflect on their time with Edmundite ministries in Selma, AL and New Orleans, LA and consider how building relationships and sharing in the life of the Black community enriched their own lives and perspectives. 

Tuesday, January 16 // 3:00-4:30 P.M. // International Student Lounge, St Edmund’s Hall 120
Join the Office of International Student and Scholar Services and the Institute for Global Engagement for International Coffee Hour honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. All are welcome for coffee, pastries, and conversation.

Wednesday, January 17
CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER – Disciples of Dignity: Feeding Bodies and Empowering Souls Since 1937 with Chad McEachern, President and CEO of Edmundite Missions  

Learn and engage with the vibrant history of the Edmundite Missions from its founding in 1937, through the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, and its continued growth and evolution today. The presentation will highlight the organization’s commitment to service with dignity and equity and the call to serve not because the Missions’ clients are Catholic, but because the Missions is Catholic.

Wednesday, January 17 // 5 P.M. // Media Creation Studio, St Edmund’s Hall 215
Selma Movie Night & Snacks with MOVE Civil Rights Alliance 

This major motion picture directed by Ava DuVernay chronicles Dr. King’s leadership to secure equal voting rights and the historic march from Selma to Montgomery.  

Thursday, January 18 // 9 A.M. // Farrell Room
Thoughts on Justice, Mercy and Love Concerning VT Refugees with Sarah M. Childs, Ed.D., Director, Center for Student Diversity, Empowerment, and Community and Molly Gray, Executive Director, Vermont Afghan Alliance and former Lt. Governor of Vermont. 

Dr. King promoted two major themes throughout his life’s work—racial justice and economic justice. Through the sharing of stories and experiences of being in community with and working alongside local refugees, the presenters will discuss how their lives and perspectives have been shaped by direct relationships with refugees settled in Vermont. Highlighting the theme of The Fierce Urgency of Now, both will share what they believe as advocates is critical to the success and wellness of this population in Vermont.   

Thursday, January 18
CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER – Disciples of Dignity: Feeding Bodies and Empowering Souls Since 1937 with Chad McEachern, President and CEO of Edmundite Missions
Learn and engage with the vibrant history of the Edmundite Missions from its founding in 1937, through the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, and its continued growth and evolution today. The presentation will highlight the organization’s commitment to service with dignity and equity and the call to serve not because the Missions’ clients are Catholic, but because the Missions is Catholic.  

Friday, January 19 // 4 P.M. // Outside at the Cupola
MLK Convocation Candlelight Closing Event with Edmundite Campus Ministry including Fr. Michael Carter, SSE and music by Ryan Hay, MOVE. Cookies and cocoa will be served. 

Sponsored by: Office of the President, The Donald J. Sutherland Lecture Series, and Edmundite Campus Ministry, in partnership with the Martin Luther King, Jr Society, Center for Student Diversity, Empowerment, and Community (DEC), the Diversity Coalition, Mobilization of Volunteer Efforts (MOVE), and Random Acts of Kindness. 

This program would not be possible without the support of the 2024 MLK Convocation Planning Committee:  

Co-Chairs: Vernita Weller, Student Success Advisor and Laura Crain, Library Director; Jolivette Anderson-Douoning, Post Doctoral Fellow; Rev. David Cray, S.S.E.; Christine Dossou ’25, MLK Jr. Society; Dawn Ellinwood, Vice President for Student Affairs; Gretchen Galbraith, Dean of the Faculty; Kaltumo Ibrahim ‘25, MLK Jr. Society; Choeden Lama, Assistant Director for the Center for Student Diversity, Empowerment, and Community; Caitlin Lei, Digital Media Marketing Strategist; Cameron Michael ’24, Diversity Coalition; Chicha Romain ‘24, Diversity Coalition & MLK Jr. Society, Lara Scott, Director of MOVE; Heidi St. Peter, Director of Purposeful Learning; Jarrett Sweet ’25; Emily Zimmer, Assistant Director of Conferences & Special Events