To commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Creighton chapter of the NAACP and the MLK Committee organized and held a series of events with the theme “Honoring the Legacy: Take Action Now” to celebrate the life of King.
All of the week’s events spoke to Creighton’s mission statement and play off of some of its core values: service to others, the importance of family life, the inalienable worth of each individual and appreciation of ethnic and cultural diversity.
The committee’s mission is to raise awareness and promote the values of Martin Luther King within the context of Creighton’s commitment to social justice, diversity and inclusion, according to Creighton’s Martin Luther King Jr. Committee.
“I work on this committee each year in an attempt to promote the teachings of Dr. King so as the years pass, he doesn’t become a historical face with the majority of people no longer aware of his message,” said Helen Shew, programming and community relations coordinator for the center for Health Policy and Ethics. “His message of non-violence, love of neighbor and working to ensure a just world for all are as relevant now as when he lived and died.”
The committee is an all-university organization composed of students, staff, faculty and administrators.
“Amber Bennett, a member of CUNAACP and the MLK Planning Committee, noted that the main goal was to create unity across campus, but not just amongst undergraduate students,” said Symone Sanders, a Business junior and vice president
of CUNAACP.
Bennett, an Arts & Sciences senior, then went on to speak of how the committee really wanted to reach out to the professional schools, staff, administrators and behind-the-scenes staff at Creighton to celebrate King’s dream.
“All of the events were important and were designed to educate everyone about the life and work of Dr. King,” said John Pierce, associate vice president for affirmative action and diversity outreach. “We look at his writings, his speeches and the ideals that he espoused. We want to provide opportunities for group discussions and personal reflection.”
Sanders said the table talk was an event centered on dialogue among individuals who were not necessarily familiar to one another.
“It’s no longer simply about race; socioeconomic levels and religion also play a role in today’s society,” Sanders said. “Table talk allowed for an honest conversation amongst a group of these diverse individuals who otherwise might never have a chance
to dialogue.”
Bennett also talked about how the MLK Committee wanted to challenge people to live out King’s dream. This year, Creighton partnered with the city of Omaha and other organizations to urge people to take action. Creighton challenged everyone to work toward King’s dream of ongoing service, interactive programming and community action.
“The dream has not and can never be realized because it is a forever and ongoing action” Sanders said. “Each of us can take part in making our campus, our community and our city a better place. That’s what this holiday is about.”
Shew had a hope that Creighton students could discern a part of King’s message that resonates with them and gives them a compass to use in their lives.
“Dr. King challenged us to build a more perfect union and taught us that everyone has a role to play in making America how it ought to be,” Sanders said.