NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University will remember the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a MLK Day of Service and Convocation featuring prominent civil rights activist, Dr. William Barber II.
TSU will host the MLK Joint Day of Service with seven other universities and colleges on Saturday, Jan. 19. Participants will gather in Kean Hall at 10:30 a.m. before leaving to perform service projects across Metro Nashville.
On Monday, Jan. 21, TSU will join the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship and the Nashville community in celebrating the slain civil rights leader. Hundreds of people are expected to assemble in front of Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church at 9:30 a.m. to march to TSU’s Gentry Complex for its annual Convocation honoring King. The Convocation is scheduled for 11 a.m.
Barber will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Convocation. Even though he is national co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, the Goldsboro, North Carolina, pastor is probably best known for his Moral Monday alliance of more than 200 progressive organizations. Over the past six years, that statewide movement has fought for voting rights, public education, environmental protection, and the rights of women, labor and immigrants.
“He has a very large platform,” said Dr. Learotha Williams, an associate professor of history at TSU. “He’s doing things in the spirit of Dr. King. I’m looking forward to hearing him speak.”
Shirley Nix-Davis, director of outreach for TSU’s Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement, is one of the organizers of the MLK Joint Day of Service. She said TSU seeks to honor the legacy of King every day through its motto: Think. Work. Serve.
“One of his quotes is, ‘everybody can be great, because anybody can serve,’” said Nix-Davis.
To learn more about TSU’s Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement, visit http://www.tnstate.edu/servicelearning/.
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With more than 7,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs and seven doctoral degrees. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.