RU organizes weeklong celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.

Radford University will once again honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a weeklong series of special events.

An MLK community program sponsored by the NAACP of Radford, Floyd, Montgomery County and Pulaski will kick off the series on Jan. 17 at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Christiansburg. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Patricia Jones of Park United Methodist Church.

On Jan. 18, students will volunteer throughout the New River Valley during the third annual MLK Jr. Day of Service. In the past, participants have volunteered at the Radford Clothing Bank and the Radford Health and Rehab Center and have orchestrated food drives for area food pantries.

Political activist, scholar and author Angela Davis will be the keynote speaker at the on-campus MLK Commemorative Program on Jan. 20. The event is free and open to the public. Other events throughout the week include:

• Sunday, Jan. 17, 3 p.m., Asbury United Methodist Church: NAACP of Radford, Floyd, Montgomery County and Christiansburg MLK Community Event
   
• Monday, Jan. 18, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., meet at the Bonnie Auditorium:  MLK Jr. Day of Service
   
• Tuesday, Jan. 19:
  • Afternoon Teach-ins: (1:15-2:15, 2:15-3:15, 3:15-4:15)
  • 7 p.m., Bonnie Auditorium: MLK Oratorical contest – DAP Spoken Word
     
• Wednesday, Jan. 20:
  • 10 to 11 a.m., Bonnie combo room: Professional Development
  • Noon to 1 p.m., Tyler Hall 25, Center for Diversity and Inclusion: Dine on Diversity, "Race as a Social Construct" featuring Dr. Lori Hall
  • 6 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.), Preston Hall: MLK Commemorative Program; event is free and open to the public; tickets are required for entry and available in the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Tyler Hall 25
     
• Thursday, Jan. 21:
  • 6 to 8 p.m., meet outside of Tyler Hall: NAACP’s March on campus
     
• Friday and Saturday, Jan. 22 -23: Fourth annual MLK Cultural Excursion in Atlanta