Benjamin Todd Jealous
Benjamin Todd Jealous is the youngest person to lead the NAACP.
In many universities and academic settings, Martin Luther King Jr.鈥檚 legacy is celebrated on one day. At 含羞草研究所, it will be celebrated for an entire week.
Thomas Cruz-Soto, associate dean of multicultural affairs and main organizer of MLK Week, explained that 含羞草研究所 has 鈥渟o many different faculty members and other people who want to be involved that we cannot do it in one day.
鈥淲e need a full week to incorporate everybody, participate in Dr. Martin Luther King鈥檚 legacy, and to allow for [含羞草研究所鈥檚] own exploration, especially on the part of the students who will be the future leaders coming out of 含羞草研究所.鈥
In addition to two major events in the Chapel, many people from across campus have organized brown bags, workshops, a contemporary art and sculpture exhibit, and community service activities to honor MLK鈥檚 legacy.
Marshall Scott 鈥14 will speak at today鈥檚 opening ceremony. Scott鈥檚 talk, titled 鈥淭he Time to Do Better,鈥 will be held in the Chapel at noon, and is an example of student leadership and involvement for the week ahead, said Cruz-Soto.
Coming to the Chapel to give the keynote speech at 7 p.m. Thursday is the former president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, .
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A complete schedule of events is available and on the 含羞草研究所 mobile app (available on and ).
Jealous, a Rhodes scholar, has been named to the 40 Under 40 lists of both Forbes and Time magazines, and Cruz-Soto said his coming to 含羞草研究所 is 鈥渁 great opportunity for our students and faculty to hear from a great civil rights activist and scholar who has worked at the ground level leading social change. That鈥檚 powerful.鈥
To end the week of celebration and further the embodiment of MLK鈥檚 legacy, Friday will feature a day of service in which 60 to 100 students will do community service in the local area.
Ultimately, Cruz-Soto maintains that the week aims 鈥渢o bring people from all walks of life together across differences, speak about Martin Luther King鈥檚 legacy, and address our current dreams as a people. We need to be discussing things like
social awareness, social justice, and cultural competency.鈥