St. Ambrose University's annual Civil Rights Week celebration this year will include a four-hour campus program in celebration of Martin Luther King Day, Monday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Rogalski Center ballroom.
The "Injustice Anywhere" celebration will be highlighted by an 11 a.m. Unity Service featuring a keynote address on Dr. King's legacy by Redmond Jones II, a former commissioner and chair of the Iowa Commission on Human Rights and the current city administrator for West Branch, Iowa.
The event will include opening remarks from new Davenport Mayor Mike Matson and retiring U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa), and a meditation on Dr. King's legacy from Bishop J.R. Horton, DD, pastor of the Gospel Mission Temple.
A free community lunch will be served at the Rogalski Center from noon to 1 p.m.
From 10 to 11 a.m., local youth are invited to participate in a rock painting activity to share messages of encouragement to continue the pursuit of human and civil rights. The rocks will be added to the Freedom House Rock Garden at 1912 Grand Avenue in Davenport.
The event is sponsored by P.U.N.C.H., Friends of MLK and St. Ambrose University.
"We are proud of our history of celebrating civil rights each January, but we believe bringing an event to campus on the day the entire nation celebrates the legacy Rev. King left behind really conveys the impact and importance of the work he did," said Ryan Saddler, MEd, Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at St. Ambrose. "Understanding Rev. King's commitment to achieving freedom and civil rights for every American is essential to understanding the importance of continuing to fight for his dream."
St. Ambrose University's week of civil rights reflection will include a Martin Luther King Day Celebration at Rogalski Center. The Jan. 20 program “Injustice Anywhere” will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring an 11 a.m. Unity Service with keynote speaker Redmond Jones II.
St. Ambrose's annual celebration of the ongoing movement for Civil Rights will begin with screenings of "Hesburgh," a documentary film celebrating the work for social justice done by Catholic educator Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Galvin Fine Arts Center. Also, Saturday, "Rise," a musical tribute featuring Walt Whitman and the Soul Children of Chicago, will take place at 6 p.m. at Augustana College's Centennial Hall.
Additional Civil Rights Week events at St. Ambrose will include:
COMMUNITY DISCUSSION: ISLAMOPHOBIA, ANTI-SEMITISM, WAR-INCITING RACISM - CHRIST THE KING CHAPEL, TUESDAY, JAN. 21, 1-2 P.M.
Panelists include Lisa Killinger, PhD, president of the Muslim Community of the Quad Cities and professor of diagnosis and radiology at Palmer Chiropractic College; Chaplain (LtC) Kelly O'Leary, Command Chaplain for US Army Sustainment Command; Rabbi Henry Jay Karp of Temple Emanuel in Davenport and professor of Judaism at St. Ambrose University; and Matthew Coomber, PhD, Episcopal Priest and professor of Theology.
MARCH TO REMEMBER - CHRIST THE KING CHAPEL, TUESDAY, JAN. 21, 3-4 P.M.
The annual Silent March will begin Jan. 21 at 3 p.m. in Christ the King Chapel. From there, the march proceeds to Marquette Street, which has been commemorated by the City of Davenport as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. As part of the march, St. Ambrose has collaborated with the City of Davenport to host a pop-up crosswalk to increase awareness of the need for walkable sidewalks and crosswalks as a social justice issue. We will place additional signage and a tarp on the crosswalk on Gaines Street, across from Galvin, and walk across it as part of the march. Neighborhoods with safe and walkable sidewalks and crosswalks give individuals access to schools, business and support physical fitness.
COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT, RIVER BEND FOODBANK, THURSDAY, JAN. 16, 3:15-5:45 P.M.
Students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in a service project at the River Bend Food Bank warehouse, where food is received and distributed to food pantries in 26 Iowa and Illinois counties. We will sort donated items, and pack food for distribution.
COMMUNITY DISCUSSION: RACISM TOWARD AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN U.S. SPORTS - TBD, THURSDAY, JAN. 22, 7-8 P.M.
Ryan Saddler, Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Tyler Spencer, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology will facilitate the session. Hosted by the SAU - Black Student Union.
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