Centenary College Honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy With Dream Week Events

Centenary College is honoring the legacy and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a full week's worth of activities.

Things get kicked off at 8 a.m. Monday morning (Jan. 20) with the MLK Service Day. Participants will work to beautify the Highland area by painting, cleaning and making other repairs to local schools and non-profit organizations.

Dream Week 2014 also offers lots more events that encourage participants to reflect on the past, while acting on the promise of the future. All events are open to the public. Here's the complete list:

Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Day - January 20, 8:00 a.m., Kilpatrick Auditorium/Various Sites

Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. in Kilpatrick Auditorium and participants will be returned to campus at noon for lunch. Register online for the service day project HERE.

Dream Week Convocation: Dr. Lee Morgan, Professor Emeritus - January 21, 11:10 a.m., Whited Room in Bynum Commons

Centenary Professor Emeritus Lee Morgan will discuss his personal stories of integration in the Shreveport-Bossier area and on Centenary’s campus. Archivist Chris Brown will also be on hand to introduce the “Presence of African Americans at Centenary prior to 1956” history exhibit, located in the lobby of Bynum Commons. Lunch with the speaker will immediately follow.

Lunch with Dr. Lee Morgan, Professor Emeritus - January 21, 12:00 p.m., Cafeteria in Bynum Commons

Have lunch and an informal discussion with Centenary Professor Emeritus Lee Morgan following his Dream Week Convocation.

Film: "42" - January 21, 7:00 p.m., Robinson Film Center

"42" is a 2013 American biographical sports film written and directed by Brian Helgeland. The film is the story of legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson and Brooklyn Dodgers manager Branch Rickey, who broke Major League Baseball’s color line when he signed Robinson in 1946. Chadwick Boseman stars as Robinson and Harrison Ford plays Branch Rickey.

Dream Week Convocation: “The Unknown Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement” - January 22, 12:00 p.m., Whited Room

Join Centenary faculty Dr. Dana Kress and Dr. Peter Huff for this conversation about the unsung heroes of the Civil Rights era.

Dream Week Convocation: Ms. Sherricka Fields ’05 - January 23, 11:10 a.m., Whited Room

Listen to a Centenary alumna discuss her years at Centenary and her current work with the Shreveport Mayor’s office.

Lunch with Ms. Sherricka Fields ’05 - January 23, 12:00 p.m., Cafeteria in Bynum Commons

Have lunch and an informal discussion with Ms. Sherricka Fields ’05 following her Dream Week Convocation.

Film: "RACE-The Power of an Illusion" - January 23, 7:00 p.m., LSUS University Center Theatre

"RACE-The Power of an Illusion" is a three-part PBS documentary mini-series that investigates race in society, science, and history. CLICK HERE For directions to the University Center Theatre.

Theatre Performance: “Four Little Girls” - January 24, 7:00 p.m., Marjorie Lyons Playhouse

The Mahogany Ensemble Theatre will stage a reading that honors the lives of Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, Cynthia Wesley and Addie Mae Collins, on the 50th anniversary of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama.

The play takes a look at what every child imagines they want to be when they grow up and dares to examine what it's like to be a child in the most extreme conditions. Admission is $5 for the public. It's is free for faculty, staff, and students.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratory Competition - January 25, 1:00 p.m., Marjorie Lyons Playhouse

Presented by Mahogany Ensemble Theatre in partnership with the City of Shreveport, Shreve Memorial Library System, and Centenary College, this event honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the rich Civil Rights heritage in Northwest Louisiana through the art of oratorical presentation, while showcasing the emerging leadership of talented youth in the region.

The oratory competition is open to all students: grades 3rd-5th (elementary division), 6th-8th (junior division), and 9th-12th (senior division). The Youth Leadership Award is open to young adults ages 16-21. Call 318.382.2841 for more information.

All Dream Week activities are co-sponsored by the Centenary Diversity Committee and the Office of Global Engagement.  For more information on Dream Week 2014, contact Chris Lavan, Director of Global Engagement, at 318-869-5542 or Dr. Chad Fulwider, Assistant Professor of History and Chair of the Diversity Committee, at 318-869-5185.