News

A Week of Events Celebrating the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

January 05, 2015

To observe the rich and varied legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., Northwestern University’s Chicago campus will host a series of events January 20-24, 2015, presented by the Day to Recognize the Efforts and Achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (D.R.E.A.M.) Committee, an organization of administrators and students from Northwestern University School of Law, the Feinberg School of Medicine, and Kellogg School of Management, that coordinates lectures and programs to inform faculty, staff, and students about the teachings and contributions of Dr. King.

This year’s commemoration titled Finite Disappointment, Infinite Hope in reference to one of Dr. King’s most famous quotes, tackles some of the deep seated social issues faced by marginalized communities. The week’s events begin with a screening of Selma, a 2014 historical drama directed by Ava DuVernay depicting the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery for voting rights. On Wednesday, January 21, a DREAM Week reception will take place along with a performance of Crime Scene Chicago: Let Hope Rise by Collaboraction, a theatrical group that explores critical issues with different communities in Chicago. On January 22 the DREAM Committee will lead a panel discussion on institutional mistrust focusing on disenfranchised communities’ distrust of the legal and healthcare industries. Finally, the week will wrap up with service days on Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 24.

D.R.E.A.M. Week Schedule

Tuesday, January 20
6 p.m. or later
Evening at the Movies: a screening of Selma and post film discussion
AMC River East, 322 E. Illinois
Co-sponsored by the Black Law Students Association
RSVP Required Register to attend… 

Wednesday, January 21
6-9 p.m.
DREAM Week reception and Collaboraction performance Crime Scene Chicago: Let Hope Rise
Thorne Auditorium, 375 E. Chicago
Co-sponsored by the Black Law Students Association
Tickets Required Register to attend… 

Thursday, January 22
12 p.m.
Taking the First Step: A panel discussion on institutional mistrust
Rubloff 150, 375 E. Chicago
Co-sponsored by the Black Law Students Association 

Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 24
DREAM Week Service Activity    
Various Locations            
Pre-registration Required Register to attend… 

All of these events are sponsored by Chapman and Cutler and Perkins Coie and are free and open to the Northwestern University community; however, pre-registration is required for the movie screening on January 20, the Collaboraction performance on January 21, and the days of service on January 23 and 24.

Northwestern University classes will be suspended in observation of King’s birthday on Monday, January 19. For information about events taking place on the Evanston campus, visit www.northwestern.edu/mlk/. The Evanston campus programming will include a lecture by The Ohio State Moritz College of Law professor Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, on Monday, January 26.