Celebrating
The Value Of Humanity
January 16, 2023
Convocation Speaker:
Indiana State Senator Eddie Melton
For more than 30 years, Valpo has engaged students, faculty, staff, retirees, and the broader Northwest Indiana community in purposeful dialogue about the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and how to further this legacy today and beyond.
We are happy to announce the 2023 MLK Day celebration, titled “Celebrating the Value of Humanity,” will feature a keynote address from State Senator Eddie Melton. Indiana Senator Melton was born and raised in Gary, Indiana as the son of a railroad worker and proud Steelworks Local 188 Union member.
In 2015, he worked with President Barack Obama’s administration in implementing “My Brother’s Keeper,” an initiative designed to address persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color. He is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. and received a B.S. of Organizational Management from Calumet College of St. Joseph. Recently in 2022, Senator Melton authored a senate resolution urging the legislative council to assign the topic of providing an enhanced study on Black history in each high school United States history course to the appropriate study committee.
Just like Martin Luther King Jr., Eddie is spending his life working to give a voice to the voiceless.
Schedule:
| Time | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 9:15 a.m. | Registration | Harre Union Atrium |
| 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Focus Sessions | Brown and Gold Room, Harre Union; Ballrooms A, B, and C, Harre Union; and Duesenberg Recital Hall and Room 1412, VUCA |
| 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | The Brauer Museum of Art Presents: 2023 MLK Celebrating Black Artists Exhibit | The Brauer Museum of Art, Valparaiso University Center for the Arts |
| 12 – 2 p.m. | Lunch at Founders ($6) | Founders Table, Harre Union |
| 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. | Guest Speaker Luncheon: David Masciotra ($10) | Community Room, Christopher Center |
| 1:15 – 1:45 p.m. | Reenactment of the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington | Starts at Christopher Center, ends at Chapel of the Resurrection |
| 2 – 3:30 p.m. | Convocation | The Chapel of the Resurrection |
| 4 – 6 p.m. | Campus Service Project | Ballrooms A, B, and C, Harre Union |
High School Schedule:
| Time | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 9 – 10 a.m. | Registration | Harre Union Atrium |
| 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Focus Sessions | Brown and Gold Room, Harre Union; Ballrooms A, B, and C, Harre Union; and Duesenberg Recital Hall and Room 1412, VUCA |
| 12:15 – 12:45 p.m. | Free Lunch at Founders | Founders Table, Harre Union |
| 12:45 – 1:15 p.m. | Campus Tour | |
| 1:15 – 1:45 p.m. | Reenactment of the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington | Starts at Christopher Center, ends at Chapel of the Resurrection |
| 2 – 3:30 p.m. | Convocation | The Chapel of the Resurrection |
*No K-8 program will be provided.
Focus Sessions:
Economic Sustainability and Distributive Justice
Ballroom A, Harre Union
Cheryl Harris, CPM Senior Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer, Allstate Insurance Company
Contributors:
Tiffany J. Bell, Ph.D., Graduate Program Director and Associate Professor, Valparaiso University
Lacey Logan, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor of Management, Valparaiso University
Affirmative Action
Ballroom B, Harre Union
Lawanda Ward, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., J.D. Assistant Professor of Higher Education, The Pennsylvania State University
Contributor:
José Padilla J.D., President, Valparaiso University
Human Rights, the Ideal vs. Reality
Ballroom C, Harre Union
Robert Wichlinski, MALS Lecturer, Valparaiso University
Contributors:
Frank Mrvan, Congressman, Indiana
Robert Cotton, City Councilman, Valparaiso
Brendan Clancy, Trustee, Portage Township
Richard Klee, Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Theology, Valparaiso University
Momin Mirza, Director, Rifai Institute
Identity Equitable Healthcare
Brown & Gold Room, Harre Union
Nicholas Metheny, Ph.D., MPH, RN Assistant Professor, University of Miami
Contributor:
Zion Gifford, Student, Valparaiso University
Environmental Justice
Duesenberg Recital Hall, VUCA
Reverend Gregory Manning Pastor, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
Contributors:
Julie Peller, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry, Valparaiso University
Chris Iceman, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry, Valparaiso University
The Gift of Immigration
Room 1412, VUCA
Rothschird Dangervil M.Div Student, Andrews University
Contributors:
Reverend Brian Beckstrom, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President for Mission, Church, and Ministry, Valparaiso University
Alyssa Long, Director, Compass International Family Center
Tonia Frederick, Coordinator, Compass International Family Center
Salena Anderson, Ph.D., Board Member, Compass International Family Center and Associate Professor of English Graduate TESOL Director, Valparaiso University
Luncheon with Guest Speaker:
Join us for a special luncheon with Valpo English department alum and best selling author David Masciotra ’10 M.A. from 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. in the Christopher Center Community Room. Masciotra will discuss his impactful book, titled “I Am Somebody: Why Jesse Jackson Matters,” a critical book for understanding where America in the 21st Century has come from and where it is going.
Books will be available for purchase outside the Community Room. Tickets cost $10 per person at the door. RSVP here.
The Brauer Museum of Art Presents: 2023 MLK Celebrating Black Artists Exhibit
Brauer Museum of Art, Valparaiso University Center for the Arts
The recently reopened Brauer Museum of Art is proud to present Celebrating Black Artists – an exhibition that combines works by Black artists already in the Brauer’s collection with others from the private collection of Valparaiso University Professor Michael Chikeleze.
“It’s important for us to celebrate the diversity of artists represented in the Brauer’s collection,” says Brauer Museum Director and Curator Jonathan Canning. “Too often, art museums are thought to be the preserve of a white, educated middle-class. We are fortunate at the Brauer to possess works by artists from diverse cultures, races, and ethnicities. Our diverse student body will find itself represented here.”
Among notable Black artists in the exhibition are Chicago-based Richard Hunt ’13 H., one of the most prolific living sculptors, the late Milwaukee street preacher and self-taught artist, Prophet Blackmon, and Ernie Barnes, a professional football player and Sports Artist of the 1984 Olympic Games. Also on view are works by nationally renowned artists Charles White and Romare Bearden, as well as Kara Walker and Dawood Bey, two of the leading artists of our time.
The exhibition will run from Martin Luther King Jr. Day through Black History Month until Easter.
2023 MLK DAY CALLS TO ACTION
Throughout the 2023 spring semester, Valparaiso University will host additional service projects to continue Celebrating the Value of Humanity and honoring Martin Luther King Jr. At the end of each focus session, more information will be shared about the service projects during the call to action presentation.
ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY AND DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE
Project: Food packing
Contact: Carrie Whittier, Lisa Jennings
When: Kick-off project on January 16, 5 – 7 p.m.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Project: Student ambassadors during Indiana Latino Institute event Dia de la Familia
Contact: Angela Vidal-Rodriguez
When: Spring 2023
HUMAN RIGHTS, THE IDEAL VS. REALITY
Project: Unity Cafe
Contact: Sam Burgett
When: Ongoing in Spring 2023
IDENTITY EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE
Project: Thrive Program, Opportunity Enterprises
Contact: George Pati
When: March 2023
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Project: Environmental clean-up and awareness
Contact: Tom Goyne
When: April 2023
THE GIFT OF IMMIGRATION
Project: Tutoring
Contact: Salena Anderson
When: Semester-long opportunities as well as shorter projects