Honoring Dr. King's Legacy
Each time we set to the task of writing an announcement about celebrating a heritage month or day of celebration — in this case, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. — I always take a moment to pause on what the purpose behind these announcements means. I don’t want them to become a duty — something to cross of a checklist — yet I continue to appreciate taking this time to pause and reflect on what this day means to me.
As honored as I am to celebrate Dr. King on Monday, I am hit with the reality of how much more work we need to do every day in our educational environments. The work and message that Dr. King delivered throughout his life was and should continue to be a daily journey. The message of his legacy continues to move forward and backward. The Civil Rights Movement is never truly done. We at Pacific University need to continue with the work in so many aspects!
Here at Pacific we want our values of social justice to be apparent in the daily experiences of students, faculty and staff. We want that very basic human right of feeling like we belong. Ultimately, each of us is responsible for sustaining an environment that is welcoming and can uphold Dr. King's dream.
Dr. King once shared, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education."
As we celebrate his legacy this year, how will you take his words and incorporate them into your daily work, life, and with what purpose?
I ask you to please join us for a day of dialogue and learning with Black-led Oregon-based Abolitionist initiative: "Racial Justice Campus Collaborative and community partners for Defining Abolition: Black People Liberation Themselves."
Training and discussion topics will include:
- Organizing with a Black Queer Feminist Lens
- Abolitionist Education/History
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Black Trans Feminisms
- Black Liberation & Immigrant and Refugee Justice
- Black Spatial Politics
- Envisioning a World without Policing and Prisons
With community organizers and advocates representing Unite Oregon, Black and Beyond the Binary Collective, Southern Oregon Black Leaders Activists Community Coalition, African Holistic Health Organization, IRCO: Africa House, and more to be announced!
In Community,
Narce Rodriguez
Vice President for Student Affairs
Chief Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Officer