By GREG HORNER, Staff Reporter.

With protests ongoing in many cities and questions of race still haunting the country it has never been clearer that Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream has yet to be fully realized. To honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Delta College will be hosting a series of events aimed at honoring the work of King, and the work of those who have fought to advance Civil Rights.

The celebrations will be held Jan. 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Founder’s Fall on main campus, and from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Ricker Center in Saginaw. Delta has invited a variety of local performers to join in on honoring King, and organizers will ask students to consider how their actions can bring change in other peoples lives.

The chairman of this year’s celebration will be Daniel Segura, a member of Delta’s Counseling Department. Segura served as last year’s events chairman, and has worked as a member of the planning committee for Delta’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration for years.

Ceremonies will begin with Detroit native DaTuan Stinson, who will read his poem titled, “I Have a Dream,” which takes inspiration from the famous speech of King. Following Stinson, Segura and Delta’s President Emeritus, Don Carlyon, will give words of welcome and honor the work of the Civil Rights Movement.

“I want to show students that Dr. King’s legacy is still ongoing,” said Segura. “Whether it’s issues with race, fighting for sexual equality or improving the livelihoods of those with disabilities.”

At noon, the Delta College Jazz Choir will lead a procession of students on a solidarity march from Founder’s Hall to the Commons. Organizers hope to show students that peaceful protesting was an integral part of the Civil Rights Movement, and is still an effective expression of free speech in the 21st century.

“A lot of rhetoric lately has accused protesters of causing violence and breaking the law,” said Segura. “But the actions of mad men aren’t caused by peaceful assemblies, or by citizen protests.”

John Neal, Delta’s Multicultural Director, was in charge of finding talent for the celebration. Neal used his connections with local church and community leaders to find artists whose work in some ways reflect the legacy of King

“I reached out to Chris Pryor, the Pastor of Victorious Believers Ministries, to help give me some ideas,” Neal explained. “His church’s Praise Dancers will perform at the ceremony, and he also connected me with the First Ward Community Center.”

The First Ward Community Center is an organization that works to improve the community of Saginaw. They offer a variety of programs for at risk youth in the area, including a theater program which will perform at the ceremony.

“I was also excited to get the Sojourner Truth Community Theater,” said Neal. “We’ve had them in the past, and found their performances very moving.”

The Sojourner Truth Community Theater is located on the second floor of the Saginaw Center just across from the Dow Event Center. The theater works to promote black art and culture in Saginaw, and will perform a series of vignettes about the life and work of King.

Other performers include the Delta Jazz Choir, and Crystal Turner & Brave New Voices, a spoken word poetry group from Flint. Organizers hope to showcase a variety of talented black artists and performers, and demonstrate the many ways that black art enriches American culture.

Following the events on the main campus, a short ceremony will be held for students and the public at Delta’s Ricker Center in Saginaw. The Sojourner Truth Community theater will perform for attendees, and Daniel Segura and Don Carlyon will give closing speeches to honor the legacy of King, and the work accomplished in the Civil Rights Movement.

While the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the impact of the Civil Rights Movement will always hold special significance for Black Americans, Segura hopes people of all races and backgrounds will understand the importance of advancing human rights. “Whether it’s protections for sexual minorities or improving the livelihood of those with disabilities, allowing people to live freer lives is better for everybody.”

MLK Day of Service, Jan 19th 2015:

Founders Hall

Commons

Ricker Center