The memory and ideals of Martin Luther King, Jr. were reenergized and reimagined for a new generation during “Remembering and Renewing King’s Dream for Peace: Black Lives Matter” on January 22, 2016, at Fresno Pacific University.
An estimated 175-200 students, faculty and community members of the community gathered in the BC Lounge on the main campus. The keynote speaker was Iva E. Carruthers, Ph.D., general secretary of a non-governmental organization called Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference. Through the conference, Carruthers travels to universities and seminaries throughout the U.S. promoting education, advocacy and activism.
Carruthers stressed the importance of educating today’s younger generation on civil rights issues, reminding millennials that they are the heirs to the future of social justice and racial healing. “The theme of this year’s celebration is to connect the millennial generation of Black Lives Matter, which is a human rights movement, with the civil rights movement of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,” she said before the celebration.
Other event highlights included the peacemaking circles, which provided participants an opportunity to engage others from different perspectives regarding the significance of King, and to reflect on the celebration in a way that allowed for everyone’s voice to be heard, according to organizer Karen Crozier, Ph.D., FPU director of faculty development and diversity and associate professor of practical theology (pictured with megaphone). “This was possibly the first King celebration that I have ever attended that was truly for, of, and by the people. Although some ‘dignitaries’ were invited and present, we were not consumed by our titles or positions. The purpose was for every person to experience that they mattered as we celebrated King and focused on the theme,” she said. “It is my hope that FPU as a Christian higher education institution located in a culturally diverse region will experience new life in Christ for the healing of the nations, and the place we are called to serve.”
This sixth annual celebration included a rally at 3:30 p.m. at the McDonald Hall Fountain as well as the program from 5:00-9:00 p.m. in BC Lounge. The evening event can be viewed at fresno.edu/live.
Alliant International University was the major partner for the celebration. Other partners included the African American Catholic Ministries of the Catholic Diocese of Fresno, the Catholic Diocese of Fresno Social Justice Ministry, the Fresno City College African American Studies Program, the Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary Student Leadership Team, the FPU University Diversity Committee, New Light for New Life Church of God, West Side Church of God and Xican@s Community Activists.