Jan. 22, 2014

By Michael Riley

It has been 45 years since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, but his legacy still resonates to this day.  Jan. 22, 2014 marks UW-Whitewater’s 28th annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The commemorative event honoring King Jr. is from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 22 in the UC Hamilton Room; The UW-W Gospel Choir will start the day on a high note followed by a reception in the Warhark Connection Center.

Everett D. Mitchell, director of community relations at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will deliver the keynote address.  Dr. Richard McGregory chairs the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Event Planning Committee which is sponsoring the event.

While past speakers have had backgrounds in business and art, Mitchell brings vast knowledge of theology to the Whitewater community.

Mitchell, who is the Pastor of Christ the Solid Rock Baptist Church on Madison’s east side, said he hopes the new year will bring more people together.

“Martin Luther King Jr. repeated this critique that ‘Sunday mornings are often the most segregated hour in American life,’” Mitchell said.  “I think for 2014, I would like to see a move from discussions of justice to seeking out intentional relationships that redefine the spiritual culture of Wisconsin.”

Mitchell always has been an advocate for social equity through his educational journey.  He has a degree in Mathematics & Religion from Morehouse College; he earned his masters of Divinity and Master of Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary according to his profile from the Office of Relations at UW-Madison.

“We may not share the same faith, but we do share a similar hope in humanity and in one another. I think this is what King envisioned when he discussed the beloved community,” Mitchell said.

Diversity intern Becky Wintringer is staffing the event, and said it is important because of the impact Martin Luther King Jr. had on our country.

“Being a university that strives for inclusive excellence, I hope to see a broad range of students attending the event,” Wintringer said.  “Any movement leading to equality is a movement that deserves attention.

“We have a responsibility to each other as people to respect one another, and we are lucky to attend a university that supports the education of equality for the betterment of our students. I just hope we all take advantage of those opportunities.”