ASU and MLK: More Than Just a Day

 

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Arizona State University is the nation’s largest university so it’s really not surprising there are events held to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  What is inspiring is how so many departments and groups partner with each other and with members of the community to celebrate his ideals and do so in such varied ways over such an extended period of time. Clearly, at ASU, it’s not just a Day.

In the fall, committees at every one of ASU’s four campuses start working with each other to create ASU’s annual MLK Celebration. One part of the celebration is the MLK poster-essay contest that encourages elementary, middle and high school students across the Valley to express their ideas of what Martin Luther King, Jr. stood for and how his teachings impact their lives.

 

Sharon Sauer, art teacher at Sunnyslope Elementary School in Phoenix, has submitted her students’ entries since 2003. Before she introduced the contest to the students, many had no idea who King was. “Many thought he was Michael Jordan or Eddie Murphy,” Sauer said. “Now, they just call him Martin and they feel a sense of kinship with him,” she continued.

 

Many children write essays about historical figures, but some write about ordinary people like parents, teachers, firefighters and police officers. “It is really a life-changing experience for any of these kids that win, they feel so fulfilled because they’ve had their voices heard and their parents are so proud,” said Sauer. “Many of the children rarely travel outside of their neighborhood so being a part of this contest has a huge impact on them.”

 

Students in ASU’s College of Design start thinking about MLK’s ideals in the fall as well. They work to create images they feel effectively communicate King’s message. One of those designs is selected to be used on the invitations, banners and print materials used to publicize the celebration. Students gain valuable design experience, get to see their designs through to a completed product, and ASU and community members benefit by having professional designs to promote the events.  

 

Activities on other campuses also require prior planning. “Schools sign up for [MLK Day activities at the West campus] well in advance and many schools return year after year,” said Heidi Maxwell, events manager at ASU at the West campus. Throughout the day, students visit information stations where they learn about different aspects of King’s life. After stops at each of the stations, students design posters portraying what they’ve learned and then carry the posters during a march around the campus. The march ends on Fletcher lawn where students listen to Charles St. Clair, an ASU fine arts specialist and professor, perform King’s “I have a dream” speech.

 

Instead of presenting an historical perspective, some events used King’s ideals to address present-day issues. At one event, held the week of the MLK holiday at the Downtown Phoenix campus, ASU faculty, students and community members participated in a roundtable discussion on immigration. Prior to the discussion, Christina Hernandez, coordinator for new student programs and traditions, expressed her optimism for the event’s success. “This [roundtable] allows not only ASU students but community members to really see what they have in common and to have a discussion about their similarities and differences,” she said.

 

The weekend prior to the MLK holiday, Public Allies, a program of the Center for Nonprofit Leadership and Management at the Downtown Phoenix campus, partnered with two community organizations to present the Art for Justice 'Zine workshop to help youth, ages 10 – 16, explore the contemporary issues of identity and self-image.

 

At the Polytechnic campus, events are planned for February in order to avoid schedule conflicts with events on other campuses. This year, David Hilliard, a founding member of the Black Panthers and professor at Merritt College, will speak on the historical role that the Black Panthers played in the Civil Rights movement and what the Black Panthers are doing currently for social justice. The Prayer for Peace luncheon, featuring “Voices of Darfur” will also be held.

 

Martin Luther King, Jr. dedicated his life to gaining civil rights for all people and creating a community that went beyond race, income and religion. ASU has always valued diversity and community. The events that celebrate the ideals of MLK are examples of some ways in which ASU and community members work together, sometime over long periods of time, to exchange ideas and form creative and diverse solutions to shared problems.

 

To learn more about how ASU is engaged with the community, please visit ASU in the Community’s Program Database which connects you to a wide variety of specific ASU outreach efforts.

 

Mara Zemicael, ASU in the Community feature writer
Asmara.Zemicael@asu.edu
(480) 965-0335