Five-Day Celebration Commemorates Martin Luther King, Jr.

The annual MLK Celebration affords the Rollins and Central Florida communities an opportunity to reflect upon the past and act upon the promise of a future of hope and determination. This year, Rollins will be honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and his work toward equality and economic justice for all people through a series of inspiring events.

Highlights of Rollins’ annual celebration are Step Afrika! on Thursday, January 13, which is the first professional company in the world dedicated to the tradition of stepping.

On Saturday, January 15, students will be traveling to Apopka for the Martin Luther King Day of Service. This volunteer project is a collaborative effort between the Rollins community and the Apopka Farmworkers to commemorate and celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Students will roll up their sleeves to assist in building handicap accessible ramps, tending gardens and improving a safe house for at-risk youth. Transportation will be provided and will depart from Mills Lawn at 8:15 a.m.. To register, please visit www.rollins.edu/multiculturalaffairs/programs/mlk-dayofservice-form.html.

On Monday, January 17, the Memorial Candlelight Vigil begins at 6:01 p.m. in Knowles Memorial Chapel to serve as a remembrance of the moment when King lost his life. The keynote speaker for this year’s vigil will be Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, an organization which serves as the state’s largest civil rights group dedicated to securing full equality for Florida's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) residents.

During this five-day celebration, the College community has been asked to put Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy into action by considering a monetary gift or donation of gently worn sneakers to help support the Tars Crossover project, a program developed by a Rollins alumna to benefit the youth in Cameroon, Africa. Monetary donations will be accepted throughout the celebration and gently used sneakers will be collected at the vigil.

“Rollins’ commitment to social responsibility in an inclusive environment parallels Dr. King’s philosophy,” said Rollins President Lewis Duncan. “Dr. King told us, ‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.’ Let us honor his memory and vision by summoning Rollins’ own motto: Fiat Lux. ‘Let there be light.’”


Step Afrika! (Preshow Step Performances by local youth and Upward Bound)
Thursday, Jan. 13 (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.)
Alfond Sports Center
*Free and open to the public.  No tickets required. 
Step Afrika! is the first professional company in the world dedicated to the tradition of stepping. The company is a model for the use of stepping in educational settings, espousing themes such as teamwork, academic achievement and cross-cultural understanding. The tradition grew out of the song and dance rituals practiced by historically African-American fraternities and sororities in the early 1900s. Stepping comes from a long and rich tradition in African-based communities that use movement, words and sounds to communicate allegiance to a group. *Raffle tickets will be sold to benefit the Tars Crossover project.



Maya Angelou Resource Library Reception and Showing of “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” With Dialogue
Friday, Jan. 14 at 4 p.m.
Olin Library
*Free and open to the public.  No tickets required. 
In honor of Maya Angelou, Rollins College hosts a collection of books and films dedicated to promotion of equality and multiculturalism in and outside the classroom. Please join us for a special screening of “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” a true story based on Maya Angelou’s childhood. Dialogue will follow. *Bake sale to benefit the Tars Crossover project.


Spoken Word – Open Mic
Sunday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m.
Cornell Campus Center – Dave’s DownUnder
*Free and open to the public.  No tickets required. 
Listen to a Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired Spoken Word Poetry reading by local spoken word artists. Community members welcome to present.


Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Vigil
Monday, Jan. 17 at 6:01 p.m.
Knowles Memorial Chapel
*Free and open to the public.  No tickets required. 
Celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and how his life’s messages relate to the local, global and personal issues of today through the arts of speech, song, music and dance. The keynote speaker for this year’s vigil will be Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida. Guests are encouraged to bring a pair of gently worn sneakers to donate to the Tars Crossover project.


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