The Urbana-Champaign community will join the U. of I. campus community in January to celebrate the legacy of legendary civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
The celebration of King’s birthday starts with the 15th annual Countywide Celebration Jan. 15. The event runs from 4-6 p.m. at Parkland College’s U Building, 2400 W. Bradley Ave., Champaign.
That will be followed Jan. 17 by the 31st annual Community Celebration and Advocacy for Justice event from 5-7 p.m. at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts’ Foellinger Great Hall, 500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana.. State Rep. Carol Ammons will deliver remarks.
Several other events will be held throughout the week, with the celebration ending Jan. 23 in a communitywide celebration at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana.
Tracy Kleparski, visiting assistant director, Office of Diversity, Equity and Access, said the campus and community planning committees that organized this year’s events focused on improving community connections.
The 2016 theme for campus is “Developing New Relationships: Building a Community for Everyone.”
“We’re asking: ‘What does activism mean within the U. of I. community and how do we connect with the community and work better together to improve lives?’ ” Kleparski said.
Other events include a service day where volunteers work with local charitable organizations; a poverty simulator that uses pretend money to allow people to experience the challenges faced by those living in poverty; and various performance, art and writing contests for area schoolchildren.
“We’ve been very intentional about providing students a chance to work with the community,” she said. “We’d like to see people of all ages and backgrounds get involved; that’s what makes a community strong and vital.”
