Honoring the life and legacy of Dr. King
On January 22, students, faculty, staff and guests celebrated the birthday of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Cate Zenzen |
Each January, the United States celebrates the birthday of a brilliant visionary and strategist whose ministry and mission changed the nation. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. selflessly led peaceful protests to advance towards racial equality. The Office of Diversity, Office of the Provost and the Office of the President at Lipscomb University hosted a celebratory dinner on January 22 to honor the life and work of Dr. King.
Associate Provost for Diversity, Inclusion and Special Initiatives Dr. Norma Burgess hosted an inspiring program in the new George Shinn Event Center centered around the theme of Progress. The night featured three African American millennials who work in fields of technology, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship and health care. Speakers Sherron Burgess, Dr. Lauren Waller and Bill McCleskey shared what they hope to achieve in their careers and how they are able to achieve these dreams because of Dr. King’s work.
Given that each young professional is living out the legacy left by Dr. King, each shared what they hoped would be remembered of them.
“I want people to understand that they have a superpower and that they can do anything with that superpower. If they do that and stay true to themselves, they can really be successful at anything,” said Burgess, the Global Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at BCD Travel, an international cybersecurity firm.
As a physical therapist at TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center, Health Sphere Wellness Center, and Bethany Center for Rehabilitation and Healing, Waller’s dream since she was a child was to serve people as a medical practitioner.
“I want to provide passionate and genuine service to everyone that I encounter,” said Waller. “And I also want to be more involved with the community, especially with African American youth. One thing that I want to instill in them is to eliminate fear, because that’s one thing that has held a lot of people who look like me back.”
McCleskey recognized just how significant King’s work is in his own life as Founder and CEO of Mitech Partners. The opportunities he has today would not have existed had it not been for the hard work of Dr. King and others.
“The legacy that I want to leave is to inspire our people to be the best version of themselves,” said McCleskey.
Students Eden Melles and Trey Phillips were among the speakers who shared personal reflections on Dr. King's ministry
In true birthday party fashion, guests were treated to cake and a musical performance of Stevie Wonder’s "Happy Birthday" performed by students Kati Fernander and Lenita Sheffield.
Other guest speakers included Provost Dr. W. Craig Bledsoe, Senior Director of Admissions Reggie Blair, Intercultural Development Program and Outreach Coordinator Juan Reveles, Ibis Communications Founder and CEO MaryAnne Howland, Lipscomb University Board of Trustees Chairman David Solomon, and students Trey Phillips, Eden Melles, Justin Jones and Bana Faraj.
The audience of students, faculty, staff and guests of Lipscomb University from different backgrounds and cultures characterized Dr. King’s dream of integration. The tone was that of celebration, but also of encouragement to continue to hope and fight towards equality for all in this nation.