Nazareth College commemorates MLK Jr. holiday with keynote address by Melanie West, January 18

Nazareth College's virtual celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday takes place on Monday, January 18. The program will center around "Mobilizing the Mind: Advocacy, Activism, & Antiracism." The keynote speaker is Melanie West '14, a Ph.D. candidate in ethnic studies at University of California San Diego and a Nazareth College alumna. To learn more about her and her upcoming address, see her advance video message or read her advance message (pdf). The commemoration takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Classes are suspended and staff offices are closed during this time.

The celebration will feature the recipients of the MLK Awards for Creative Expression:

• Music Category: Ally Yanoff, "Our Yesterday" (small ensemble/voice)
• Visual Arts Category: Raechelle Hajduk, "Mask Required for Entry" (linoleum print)
• Open Category: Mariela Leon Thomas, "Who I am" (video)

Evening Conversation | Jan. 18, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Join Gabrielle Brannigan & Shane Wiegand of the AntiRacism Curriculum Project in their talk, "Racist Policy & Resistance in Rochester." This talk examines how federal policies like redlining, racially restrictive covenants, and urban renewal segregated Rochester, built wealth for its white citizens, and disenfranchised people of color. It explores how local civil rights leaders like Howard Coles; Walter Cooper, Ph.D.; Connie Mitchell, Alice Young, and many others fought back. Finally, it connects these past policies to the disparity and inequality we see in Rochester today and invites us to learn from and apply the activism of Rochester's past to its present.

MLK Day of Advocacy | Jan. 23, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Explore current social justice issues, learn about multiple pathways for advocacy, and take action through MLK Day of Advocacy. Multiple workshops will examine educational equity, the use of excessive force in law enforcement, environmental justice, and poverty and economic justice.

Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.

Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.

• published: 2020 December
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