91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø’s MLK Day of Service Turns Knowledge Into Action

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VANCOUVER, Wash. – Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day on, not a day off at Washington State University Vancouver. The campus will come alive with MLK Day of Service, an event that celebrates and showcases the nonviolent civil rights ideas of Martin Luther King Jr.

MLK Day of Service takes place from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Jan. 17 in the Firstenburg Student Commons. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP is encouraged. For more information and to RSVP, visit

The theme of the 2011 MLK Day of Service event is "Knowledge into Action." The event will include a light breakfast, keynote speaker, music, and workshops and activities that focus on social justice issues and promote service in the community.

Workshops will be led by 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø faculty. The schedule is as follows:

10 - 11a.m.

  • Jails and (In)Justice – Exploring the Roots and Ramifications of Mass Incarceration in the United States, Clay Mosher, sociology
  • Communities of Color and Violence, Laurie Drapela, public affairs
  • Documentary Films as a Tool for Social Change, Pavithra Narayanan, English

11a.m. - 12 p.m.

  • Political Repression and our Forgotten Heroes of Black Liberation, Adam Carpinelli, doctoral student in history
  • Homelessness and Housing, Marcelo Diversi, human development
  • Equity in Education, Paul Pitre, education

Bola Majekobaje, assistant director for student diversity, is excited to see students, staff, faculty and community members come together to learn about and act on various social justice issues.

"The goal of our MLK Jr. Day events is to bring awareness to various issues affecting our communities and to provide ideas and opportunities for people to make a difference. We hope that the day of service will turn into a lifetime of service for individuals in attendance," said Majekobaje.

The event is sponsored by the MLK Day of Service Committee, Student Diversity, ASWSUV and the Diversity Council.

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