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Lee University will host a series of events beginning Monday, Jan. 17, commemorating the work, theology, and philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The events, hosted by the university’s Office of Racial and Ethnic Relations, will consist of special lectures, chapels, reflections, and other gatherings.

“The words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. continue to inspire and motivate us: ‘If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but by all means keep moving forward.’” says Gloria Scott-Richmond. “As we continue to move forward along the path of racial reconciliation, the purpose of this week is to remind our Lee community and beyond the importance of the legacy and relevancy of The Dream in 2022.”

The commemorative week will begin with the MLK Jr. Unity March on Monday morning at 8:45 through downtown Cleveland, starting at Lee’s School of Business on Church Street.

On Monday evening at 6, Lee professors Dr. Mary McCampbell and Dr. Ruthie Wienk will present “Music of the Civil Rights Era,” which will take place in the Johnson Lecture Hall, located in the Humanities Center on Parker Street.

Chris Singleton, a former professional baseball player who now shares a message of unity, forgiveness, and resilience, will speak in Chapel on Tuesday at 10:40 a.m. in the Conn Center. Singleton travels across the country reminding others that “love is stronger than hate,” a truth he has lived out since losing his mother during the 2015 Mother Emanuel Church tragedy in Charleston, South Carolina.

There will be a Q & A session that afternoon at 2:45 with Singleton and a Time of Reflection with him later that evening at 7. The Q&A will take place in the Humanities Center, Room 108, and the evening service will take place in The School of Religion, Room 113.

A special book signing will take place at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 19, in the Great Room, located in Lee’s Science and Math Complex, providing guests an opportunity to hear from student, staff, faculty, and community authors.

On Thursday, Jan. 20, at 6 p.m., a showing of “Honoring a Civil Rights Leader: Cruz Reynoso” will take place in the Doris Johnson Screening Room, located in the Communication Arts Building. Reynoso, a trailblazing lawyer, jurist, and law professor, was the first Latino California Supreme Court justice. This screening will be hosted by Rondall Reynoso, Cruz Reynoso’s son and an art professor at Lee.

The week’s events will conclude with “One Body Service,” a time of worship hosted by the Mosaic Council, on Friday, Jan. 21, at 7:30 p.m. in the Conn Center.

“My hope is that we would be motivated to be a part of God’s Dream for a lifetime, inspired to care beyond words, and encouraged to promote unity, seeking to leave every space better than we found it,” says Scott-Richmond.

All events are open to the public and registration is free, but seating is limited, so please register at Racial and Ethnic Relations Office.

Lee University remains dedicated to the health and safety of both the campus community and guests and requests those feeling will not attend. Masks will also be made available by request, though not required.

To find out more about Singleton, visit www.chrissingleton.com

For more information about the events, visit Racial and Ethnic Relations Office or call 423.614.8238.