The Center for Multicultural Education at Missouri Western State University is now taking reservations for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Banquet, to be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016 in the Enright Community Rooms, Spratt Hall rooms 214-216. There is no charge for the banquet, but reservations must be made by January 13 by emailing cme@missouriwestern.edu or calling 816-271-4150. The first 50 people to RSVP will receive a free prize.
The CME is also taking nominations for the Drum Major for Justice Awards, which will be presented during the banquet. The MLK Drum Major for Justice Award is for citizens who live ordinary lives but do extraordinary acts of service with reliability and commitment. The award is presented annually to one student, one Missouri Western employee, and one member of the St. Joseph community who are committed to social justice and multicultural education and service. Nomination forms are available online at griff.vn/MLKnominate, or call 816-271-4150 for more information. The deadline for nominations is Jan. 13.
The MLK Banquet will feature Pastor Robert Warren, praise dancing and singing. Warren ’95 and his wife Kimberly ’92 were inducted into the Black Archive Museum’s Hall of Fame earlier this year. The Warrens founded the MidCity Excellence Center, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster a community capable of enhancing academic outcomes, addressing social challenges and expanding economic opportunities.
The MLK Banquet is the centerpiece of Missouri Western’s weeklong celebration of the civil rights leader’s legacy. Other activities include an information booth in the Blum Student Union lobby on Tuesday, Jan. 19; a showing of the film “Selma, Lord, Selma” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, in the Kemper Recital Hall inside Spratt Hall; and a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22 at Kelley Commons, just outside the Blum Student Union.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.