Annual
Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. Convocation

32nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation

Beloved Community: the Fierce Urgency of Now

January 15 – 19, 2024

A complete schedule will be available in early December 2023.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Celebration

January 15, 2024
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Celebration

9:00 am – 6:30 pm

Saint Michael’s will host a full day of programming to celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Programs include:

  • Student Reading of Dr. King’s speech Beyond Vietnam: a Time to Break Silence (1967 Riverside Church, NYC)
  • The Fierce Urgency of Teaching the African American Experience, Right Now! with Jolivette Anderson-Douoning, PhD, Bill Clark, EdD, and Winooski High School Dual Enrollment Students
  • A presentation on Universal Design with Rebecca Eunmi Haslam, Assistant Professor of Education
  • Beloved Community Musical Performances in the Green Mountain Dining Room with the Saint Michael’s Gospel Choir directed by Vernita Weller, Student Success Advisor, Dr. Bill Ellis, Associate Professor of Music, and SMC Student Choirs
  • A presentation by Omara Rivera-Vázquez, Ph.D., Director of the Center of Equity & Justice
  • Student Panel Discussion with Moderator Sarah M. Childs, Director of the Center for Student Diversity, Empowerment, and Community
  • Keynote Speaker: Traci Griffith, JD, Racial Justice Program Director, American Civil Liberties Union, Massachusetts
  • MLK Social Hour with food from BIPOC-owned businesses
  • MLK Day Creative Space in the Makerspace

January 16 – 19 includes presentations from:

  • The Adventure Sports Center
  • Heidi St. Peter, Director of Purposeful Learning and Fr. David Cray, S.S.E
  • Chad McEachern, President & CEO, Edmundite Missions
  • Closing Ceremony on Friday, Jan. 19 with Rev. Michael Carter, S.S.E and a musical selection from Ryan Hay, Asst Director of MOVE

This program would not be possible without the support of the 2024 MLK Convocation Planning Committee:  

Co-Chairs: Vernita Weller, Student Success Advisor and Laura Crain, Library Director; Jolivette Anderson-Douoning, Post Doctoral Fellow; Rev. David Cray, S.S.E.; Christine Dossou ’25, MLK Jr. Society; Dawn Ellinwood, Vice President for Student Affairs; Gretchen Galbraith, Dean of the Faculty; Kaltumo Ibrahim ‘25, MLK Jr. Society; Choeden Lama, Assistant Director for the Center for Student Diversity, Empowerment, and Community; Caitlin Lei, Digital Media Marketing Strategist; Cameron Michael ’24, Diversity Coalition; Chicha Romain ‘24, Diversity Coalition & MLK Jr. Society, Lara Scott, Director of MOVE; Heidi St. Peter, Director of Purposeful Learning; Jarrett Sweet ’25; Emily Zimmer, Assistant Director of Conferences & Special Events