From the President: Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

January 16, 2025

Dear Southern community,

On January 15, 2025, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have been 96 years old. In his short life, he taught us about equality, about what is right, and about the true meaning of democracy. He taught us that positive change can be brought about through nonviolent protest, and he showed us the way to a better America. Although we lost him much too soon, we recognize that his mission — and his message of equity, justice, and freedom — did not die with him.

This mission encompasses a broad range of human experience, and indeed, we can look at the world around us and apply it in any number of situations: conflict in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, racial inequity; and many other circumstances of human struggle and suffering. As an institution of higher education, we must be attuned to what is happening around the world and around our community and look for ways that we can be empowered to take action.

Here at Southern, in embracing Dr. King's message, we continue to work towards advancing Southern's mission of being a social justice university. As part of that work, we offer the following events:

• Southern is one of 20+ organizations participating in the We Are One MLK Service Day project to support The Women of the Village Food Pantry in New Haven. Members of the organizations work together during the morning to prepare bags to support the pantry. If you are interested in volunteering on January 20 from 9:30 am-12:00noon, please email Jay Henderson, Director of the Center for Intercultural Engagement, for more information.
   
• On February 6, the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will sponsor the annual Commemorating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration with special guest Dr. David W. Robinson-Morris, an award-winning, community-engaged scholar, nationally renowned speaker, and author. At 1:00 p.m. in the ASC Ballroom, enjoy refreshments while listening to Dr. Robinson-Morris's keynote address, "A Time for Reflection & Action: MLK's Revolution of Values and an Invitation for Higher Education." Dr. Robinson-Morris is the founder & Chief Reimaginelutionary at The REImaginelution, LLC., and a nationally recognized author, scholar, community organizer, and DEI practitioner.
   
• You can also find other opportunities to observe Dr. King's birthday in the local community. For example, on January 20, the Yale Peabody Museum, CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the New Haven Museum will sponsor the 29th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy of Social and Environmental Justice with free events open to all. Learn more about these events and register to attend virtually or in person here.

Dr. King famously told a Montgomery, Alabama, audience in 1957, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” As we reflect upon this question ourselves and look to Dr. King's example this weekend, I encourage each of you to engage in social change with purpose and intention through your teaching, leadership, community outreach, and service -- not for one day only, but throughout the year.

Sincerely,

Dr. Dwayne Smith
Interim President