Big crowds celebrate Dr. King’s call to action in full day of programs

Vernita Weller presents a program on Martin Luther King Monday. A student at right wears a timely message on the back of her shirt. (photo Elizabeth Murray ’13)

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Saint Michael’s College is a community that “seeks to grow” in diversity and understanding, said one deeply invested participant in an expansive and enthusiastically received full-day Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Day of Celebration” Monday.

College leaders, celebration organizers and students used opening remarks in the Dion Family Student Center Roy Room to set a tone for a day that went well beyond previous MLK Convocations.

One who brought her gifts as a speaker and musician to events throughout the day was Vernita Weller, student success adviser. She first realized the College’s commitment to growth as a diverse community with expanding perspectives, Weller said, when she researched a job opportunity and read about Saint Michael’s first woman president — Lorraine Sterritt, who was present and engaged all day Monday in programming from lectures and art to music and panel discussions.

Both women made a point to honor the many organizers for this 31^st annual MLK event – students, faculty, staff and administrators of the MLK Convocation Planning Committee led by Chair Laura Crain of Durick Library. Together they conceived of and implemented a new approach to honor Dr. King’s Legacy. Prior MLK Convocations were single events in the chapel with keynote speakers. This year, the keynote speaker will be later in January as the Sutherland Lecturer, and Monday’s “Day of Celebration” was a way for community members to “grow” in community and understanding through more extensive participation and personal interactions.

More than 100 people packed the Roy Room several times over for thought-provoking lectures and activities all day, while Gospel music during lunch in Alliot and later in the evening added cultural richness. Faculty brought classes to some talks or excused students to take part in Celebration activities.

Here are some “snapshots” from a full and vibrant day:

Welcoming Remarks

9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. in the Roy Room:

Dawn Ellinwood, vice president for student affairs, was emcee to open, and she began by reviewing a PowerPoint slide with “Beloved Community Expectations” developed by the organizing committee, asking everyone to embody certain principles and hold others accountable to them.  Then Weller – the daughter of a minister father who with Weller’s mother were prominent Boston Civil Rights activists from the 1960s (see related story)– came forth and offered a prayer before sharing her personal story about joining a community that “seeks to grow.”

President Lorraine Sterritt, right wearing mask, joins a book discussion group during a Monday morning event. (photo Mark Tarnacki)

President Sterritt was next to speak. She noted how Dr. King, in his “I have a Dream” speech, spoke of “the fierce urgency of now.” Fifty years later on campus and in the world, the president said, “Now is still the moment.” She quoted king that that it is no time for apathy or complacency, but a time for vigorous and positive action. “We can make our world – and especially this community – a better place if we listen, learn and act with inclusion and equity as our common goal,” Sterritt said – “to begin to craft the future we wish for ourselves and our community.”

Student perspectives

Student speakers followed. Abdimalik Hashi, MLK Jr. Society president and a first-year graduate student in Teaching English as a Second Language, told of coming to the U.S. from a refugee camp in Kenya and eventually feeling as if his “parachute opened” with a chance at the American dream, inspired by MLK and his sacrifice for future generations. He quoted a pan-African saying, “Till the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter” as a way to focus on the need for openness to fresh perspectives on long-told and believed stories about others. “Being allies is a great start…but how about calling ourselves to be actively anti-racist?” he said. Then, to his fellow Black students on campus, he said, “I’m here, we’re here and you belong here.”

Kelechi Onuoha, Student Government Association president, then offered remarks on the theme of “Developing a beloved community,” which to her really means friendships. She offered the example of friends supporting her to be SGA president. “Becoming a true friend requires adjusting your mind,” she said. “If we say; we want St. Mike’s to be a more inclusive community, it starts here…by being each other’s friends,” she said.

Events were packed all through the day Monday in the Roy Room, as at this midday presentation. (photo Elizabeth Murray ’13)

Information Table

Hosted by MOVE students: Over in Alliot on the first floor, students from the Edmundite Campus Ministry volunteer arm, MOVE, had tables set up after hearing a request from the day’s organizers “so those walking through campus could be reminded of what is happening and encouraged to attend,” said MOVE director Lara Scott.  “It’s another example of a team effort.” They handed out “quotes” presented as mini ancient scrolls of wisdom with quotes from Dr. King.

Honoring MLK by Exploring Children’s Literature
that Celebrates Black Joy and Inspiration

10 a.m., Roy Room: Nearly a hundred people packed this event, including several classes who came over. Organizers Valerie Bang-Jensen (education) and Kristen Hindes (library staff), invited participants to consider three powerful quotations about Black joy and inspiration in children’s picture books that point to the power of children’s books in moving beyond a single story, offer “windows and mirrors” into lived experiences, and celebrate Black Joy.

Professor Peter Vantine, center, joins a book group Monday morning. (photo Mark Tarnacki)

Participants read and discussed children’s books curated by Black Authors, educators and illustrators and available at Durick, related to these ideas as well as the community guideline: “As a community we bring our best selves forward, uplift our peers, hold the highest respect for each other, and value each person’s lived experiences. We Lean into the discomfort of, at times, not being able to relate or understand, and we honor the stories shared.”

“We both appreciated the opportunity to help build a ‘beloved community’ here on campus and to share the powerful and joyful children’s books from our collection in Durick,” the presenters said. President Sterritt joined a discussion breakout group and reported out on her group’s Book “Jabari Jumps,” about a little boy working up courage to jump off a diving board. They found “great joy in the empowerment and the nurturing that his father was doing,” she said.

Music, poetry, food and prizes

Dion’s second floor at tables from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Hosted by the MLK Jr. Society, Diversity Coalition, Center for Student Diversity Empowerment & Community and MOVE. Folks on the way to third floor events or students in the Center milled about and engaged by the Radio Station WWPV studio where music from the Black experience played for most of the day.

“The Life & Philosophy of MLK: How Dr. King’s Legacy
Contributes to the Creation of the Beloved Community”

11:15 p.m. to 12:05 p.m., Roy Room:  Presenter Vernita Weller: The room was packed – almost standing-room-only – because of faculty, staff, student and visiting attendees from the Rockpoint School. Vernita Weller’s mother (who attended the march on Washington the day MLK gave his “I Have a Dream” speech and attended MLK’s funeral) attended, as did the speaker’s sister. Weller related several stories her mother told her about the Civil Rights events with Dr. King that she attended. She also gave an overview of MLK’s life and the important points for him during the Civil Rights movement up until his assassination. She explored Dr. King’s idea of a “Beloved Community” and how it meant being purposeful in one’s kindness. At the end of her powerful, passionate talk, Weller received a standing ovation from people in the room. – Elizabeth Murray ‘13

Program on Dr. King and his relationship in life (and death)
with the hymn, “Take My Hand Precious Lord.”

12:30 p.m. to 1:20 p.m., Roy Room: Professor William Ellis of the Fine Arts/Music faculty, presenter. A good-sized audience had a chance to hear recordings of this important and well-known hymn being performed, as Professor Ellis, a leading authority on such American folk music as a scholar and performer, offered insightful commentary.

Gospel Choir

12:30 to 1:20 p.m.: Diners in Alliot’s Green Mountain Dining Room were treated to a high-energy performance from a group of staff volunteers who became, for a day, the “Saint Michael’s Gospel Choir” under the direction of Vernita Weller.

A hastily organized and rehearsed Gospel Choir rocks lunch. (photo by Lauren Read)

Her family members offered accompaniment on keyboard and congas. Background harmonies or calls and responses, along with short solo verses, came from 10 other enthusiastic voices from various offices – Jeff Vincent (student life), Heidi St. Peter (Purposeful Learning), Kendra Smith (HR), Dawn Ellinwood (student life), and others among them including some children of staff. Diners cheered the numbers with enthusiasm. Weller’s trained and practiced voice soared and delighted on several numbers from the canon of Civil Rights Era protest songs: We Shall Overcome, This Little Light of Mine, Woke up this Morning with my Mind Stayed on Freedom, among them.

MLK Day Creative Space: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Traffic was steady through the Makerspace on Dion’s first floor; button making, laser cutting for keychains, shirts, and more creative activities were offered.

Claiming the Promise: Film & Discussion

Roy Room, 1:45–2:35 p.m.: Attendees watched a short film and discussed Dr. King’s legacy and disability rights with Dr. Komabu-Pomeyie, an international disability rights advocate and woman of color with a physical disability who teaches Disability Justice at Saint Michael’s. Presenter: Sefakor Komabu-Pomeyie, Ph.D.  Read a full student report on this event here.

There Is a River: Vincent Harding,
Bob Moses, MLK and Neurath’s Boat

Roy Room, 2:50–3:50 p.m.: This open class highlighted some of Dr. King’s writings that connect to the text written by his speech writer, Vincent Harding, titled There Is a River. Through Bob Moses attendees learned of the ‘river metaphor’ within civil rights organizing via a SNCC meeting discussing Neurath’s Boat. Class attendees joined a ‘thought experiment’ by boarding (via intellect and imagination) the Ship of Theseus “to question individual and institutional identity and how Dr. King’s work and life connects to our present lives and the history of Saint Michael’s College.” Presenters: Jolivette Anderson-Douoning, Edmundite Scholar in Residence and students from the Fall 2022 History class, U.S. Civil Rights.

Jolivette Anderson-Douoning with her students, Courtney Watt, right, and Christianna Bostley. (photo Elizabeth Murray ’13)

The main presenter broke the room up into groups to ponder what we, individually and as an institution, must do to keep the boat (Saint Michael’s) afloat. There were a variety of answers, and the leader eventually tied the questions back to Martin Luther King Jr.’s idea of a “beloved community.”  Her main discussion was a philosophical exploration of the Civil Rights movement and how Martin Luther King Jr. fit into it.

Before Anderson-Douoning’s main talk, the first student presenter was history major Courtney Watt ’26 of New Zealand. She reported out on Chapter 7 of Harding’s book covering important parts of civil rights activism and its history, starting with Black conventions in the mid-1800s, a seminal anti-slavery address by Henry Highland Garnet in Buffalo in 1843, the and better-known work of Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist, escaped enslaved person and authoritative Black voice. “These figures “made large waves in the river” as a metaphor for the flow of Black activism said Watt, and gave her greater understanding of moments that vitalized that activism through extraordinary stories.

The other student presenter, Christianna Bostley ’25 of Marblehead, MA, an art & design/equity double-major, reported on the book “Hands on the Freedom Plow: Personal Account by Women in SNCC (multiple editors). She told of 52 articles by women during the Civil Rights Era that reflect the spirit of those in the movement. For her, Bostley said, the story of Diane Nash particularly stood out and “showed how much we need community or ‘family’ in the movement.” It gave her insights on courage and resilience in standing up for the right and being true to oneself, she said.

Student Panel Discussion

Roy Room, 4 p.m. to 4:50 p.m.  Moderator: Sarah M. Childs, Director of the Center for Student Diversity, Empowerment, and Community (DEC) with student leaders including Chicha Romain (Diversity Coalition), Kaltumo Ibrahim (MLK Jr. Society), Abdimalik Hashi (MLK Jr. Society). Full student report on this event at this link.

MLK Social Hour with food from BIPOC-owned businesses

Roy Room, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The Congolese Catholic Choir

Roy Room,  6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Hosted by Choeden Lama, Assistant Director of DEC, with remarks by Fr. David Theroux, SSE and Jolivette Anderson Douoning, Edmundite Scholar in Residence. Directed by Jules Wetchi, MD, MPH, the choir is a mix of new Americans from the Democratic Republic of Congo and from Congo-Brazzaville and Ivory Coast. They sing in several languages of the DR Congo: French, Swahili, Lingala, Tshiluba and Kikongo.

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The MLK Convocation Planning Committee: Mahmoud Arani, Professor of Applied Linguistics/TESOL; Laura Crain, Library Director and MLK Convocation Planning Committee Chairperson; Rev. David Cray, S.S.E.; Dawn Ellinwood, Vice President for Student Affairs; Gretchen Galbraith, Dean of the Faculty; Abdimalik Hashi, MLK Jr. Society; Kaltumo Ibrahim ‘25, MLK Jr. Society; Choeden Lama, Assistant Director for the Center for Student Diversity, Empowerment, and Community; Howie LeBlanco, Director of Human Resources – Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Isabella Paredes Mendoza ‘24; Chicha Romain ‘24, Diversity Coalition; Rev. David Theroux, S.S.E.; Dakota Thomas ‘24, SGA Secretary for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Leandre Waldo, Chief of Staff, Office of the President, and Vernita Weller, Student Success Advisor.

Children’s Books from Durick Library on display during a morning presentation and activity Monday. (Photo by Mark Tarnacki)