Twelfth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King CommemorationJanuary 10-11, 2006, Ragan Theater and Sorensen Student Center |
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Civil Rights Crusader Morris Dees to Speak at 2006 Commemoration |
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Photo courtesy SPLC |
"It is doubtful that anyone in America is more hated and feared by the nation's hate groups than lawyer Morris Dees," observed U.S. News and World Report. Dees, co-founder and chief trial counsel for the Southern Poverty Law Council (SPLC), will deliver the keynote speech and participate in a brown-bag discussion during the Twelfth Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration at Utah Valley State College January 10. The Commemoration, with events spanning Jan. 10-11, will also feature a panel titled "Civil Rights in Utah and Utah County" and workshops, performances, and papers by UVSC students, staff, and faculty and by local community members. Under Dees´ leadership, the SPLC conducts pro bono legal work to enforce the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It has been a frequent antagonist of the Ku Klux Klan, having "bankrupt[ed] several Klan organizations" according to the SPLC website (http://www.splcenter.org/), and has put other white supremacist organizations, such as the Aryan Nations, out of business. A successful businessperson, he was not directly involved with the Civil Rights movement until a "night of soul searching at a snowed-in Cincinnati airport changed his life, inspiring Dees to leave the safe, business-as-usual world and undertake a new mission," according to the SPLC website. In 1971 he sold his business and co-founded the SPLC with attorney Joseph Levin and Civil Rights legend Julian Bond. His speech at UVSC will be titled "With Justice for All." Among other awards and honors, Dees has received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Award from the National Education Association, the NEA´s Friend of Education Award, the Roger Baldwin Award from the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Young Lawyers Distinguished Service Award from the American Bar Association. He is the author of three books. For more information, please contact Ryan Simmons at simmonry@uvsc.edu or 801-863-6290. |
Centro Hispano Director Ingrid Guzman Honored with MLK AwardCentro Hispano of Provo has been in development for the past five years, and came to fruition three years ago. It is a place where Spanish-speaking persons can meet to make connections with information, resources, and opportunities. It offers assistance and referrals for family problems, especially domestic violence, food and nutrition, cultural activities, immigration, mediation and legal advice, employment, translation, housing, and teaching English. Its primary role is to mentor and guide those who are new to this community through the maze of decentralized services and opportunities that are available. Its goal is to develop leaders and empower members of the Latino community, widening the network of volunteers and those involved in the service to others. It is a young and growing organization that operates primarily through the work of volunteers, and a staff of one--Ingrid Guzman.In honor of her work, Guzman will receive the third annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for the Advancement of Justice and Human Dignity during Utah Valley State College's twelfth annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Jan. 10 at 10:00. Ingrid Guzman came to this country 18 years ago from Guatemala. She is the mother of seven children, and after her own difficult experience of domestic violence and living in a shelter, she realized how many people suffer from isolation and lack of resources, often because of language and cultural difficulties in a new location. As she began to navigate her own way through this community, working at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center and volunteering with Community Health Connect, she began helping others who struggled with the language barrier. Solving health problems led to family issues, which led to employment and housing issues, which led to immigration and legal issues, all of which were related to education and language issues. Each need was related to a wider web of needs. Translating health forms, connecting others with legal assistance, providing a support group for women and children of domestic violence, teaching English--all these activities were the beginning of Centro Hispano and are only the beginning of the dream she has for this center. With the help of many other non-profit and service organizations in Utah County, especially Timpanogos Community Network and Joan Dixon, the dream of a place where an integrated hub of services are available has become a reality. The dream of Centro Hispano is to provide access to the bounty of this community to all those who live and work here, especially those whose access is restricted because of cultural and language barriers. This is the work of the Centro Hispano and Ingrid Guzman. --Robert Gosper-Espinosa, Community Represenative Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Advisory BoardSchedule of EventsAll events are free; events are open to the public except where noted with a *Tuesday, January 10 9:00-10:00 a.m., SC 206 B-C (Note change in location) Screening of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" Speech DOORS OPEN AT 9 A.M.: PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY TO AVOID DELAYS DUE TO SECURITY PRECAUTIONS 10:00-11:15 a.m., Ragan Theater Opening Ceremony: 11:30 a.m.-noon, Ragan Theater Dance presentation: Nicole Ortega *Noon-12:45, SC 206A Brown-bag faculty/student book discussion: A Lawyer's Journey by Morris Dees 1:00-2:15 p.m., Ragan Theater Panel: "Civil Rights in Utah and Utah County" 2:30-3:45 p.m., Ragan Theater Tribute to Rosa Parks 6:00-8:00 p.m., SC 206ABC Family Fiesta - Sponsored by the UVSC Latin American Club Celebrate cultural diversity in a fun-filled, family-oriented atmosphere. Experience Latin American culture hands-on by learning to make cultural crafts, enjoying Latin dance entertainment (dance instruction will also be held), and sampling traditional foods. All ages are welcome. 6:00-8:00 p.m., Centre Stage Musical Performance: The Senders The Senders play rock, folk, soul, blues and do it all with their own style--powerhouse vocals and musical arrangments that stir your soul and move your feet. Comprised of veteran Utah musicians, The Senders will play songs about hope and justice in honor of Dr. King's legacy. They offer a fun and inspiring musical event that demands--and rewards--attention. Wednesday, January 11 9:00-10:00 a.m., SC 206A Panel: "Cinematic Representations of Blackness" 10:00-11:00 a.m., SC 206B Panel: "The Immigrant Experience in Utah" 11:00 a.m.-noon, SC 206C Panel: "Slave Narratives: Issues and Implications for 21st-Century America" 11:00 a.m.-noon, SC 206A Panel: Immigration: Problems and Proposals Noon-1:00 p.m., SC 206B Panel: "Resistance Activism, and the Right to Vote" 1:00-2:00 p.m., SC 206C Panel: "Public Education for All: Equity Issues" 1:00-2:00 p.m., SC 206A Workshop: "Race Relations 101: Getting the Categories Out of Your Interactions with Others" This presentation focuses on learning to correct the interpersonal interaction error of thinking of individuals and groups at the categorical level as opposed to the one-on-one interpersonal level. It includes hands-on exercises, national data, theoretical applications, and most importantly strategies for managing categorical thinking errors. 2:00-3:00 p.m., SC 206B Panel: Latinos in Utah: Contemporary Issues and Perspectives" 2:00-3:30 p.m., Centre Stage
Workshop: "Diversity and Theater: Using the Arts to Educate" What is diversity, and why are people sometimes afraid of this word? Using dance, theatrical performance, and the role-playing experience BaFá BaFá, nationally recognized speaker Kevin Giddins will entertain and educate. Thursday, January 12 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., LC 243 Related event by the UVSC Center for the Study of Ethics: Lunchtime Ethics Open Discussion: |
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