Renowned poet, professor and author Nikky Finney will deliver a keynote address as part of Vanderbilt University's 2022 series honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Finney is scheduled to speak Jan. 17 at 4:30 p.m. CT as part of a broader virtual program that will begin with a vigil and include remarks by Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier. After Finney's address, Major Jackson, director of creative writing and Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor of English, will host a moderated Q&A with the speaker.
The virtual event is open to the entire Vanderbilt community, but registration is required.
REGISTER FOR NIKKY FINNEY'S KEYNOTE HERE.
Finney is the author of On Wings Made of Gauze, Rice, The World Is Round and Head Off & Split: Poems, which won the National Book Award for Poetry in 2011. Her newest collection of poems, Love Child's Hotbed of Occasional Poetry, was published in 2020. She is currently the John H. Bennett, Jr. Endowed Professor of Creative Writing and Southern Letters at the University of South Carolina, with appointments in the Department of English Language and Literature and the African American Studies program.
MLK candlelight vigil
Before the keynote event, a virtual candlelight vigil will honor the legacy of late civil rights activist the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The vigil will begin at the start of the event at 4:30 p.m. and last approximately 15 minutes.
The 2022 MLK Commemorative Interfaith Vigil is organized this year by Assistant Professor Stephanie Budwey and Assistant Dean Amy E. Steele of Vanderbilt Divinity School and the Rev. Dr. Chris Donald, the Rev. Gretchen Person and the Rev. Rocky Major of the Center for Spiritual and Religious Life. It will feature students from Vandy Karma, Collegiate Black Christians, the Muslim Student Association, the Jewish Student Association and the Divinity School. Melanated A Cappella will headline the vigil with a song.
FULL LIST OF COMMEMORATIVE SERIES EVENTS
The Vanderbilt community is also invited to participate in several other events starting Jan. 14 as part of the university's four-day commemorative series to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year's theme is "Where We Belong-Building an Inclusive Community."
Jan. 14: Kickoff lunch and speaker event
Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center, noon
The 2022 MLK Commemorative Series will kick off with a virtual event for the VU community at the Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center with a performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" with Vanderbilt's Melanated A Cappella choir and remarks from Dr. André Churchwell, vice chancellor for equity, diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, and Rosevelt Noble, Black Cultural Center director, and a keynote address by Vanderbilt alumna Charlane Oliver, co-founder and co-executive director of The Equity Alliance.
Jan. 15: Telling our story through service
Joint Day of Service (virtual), 1-3:30 p.m.
In the spirit of MLK Day being "a day on, not a day off," the Joint Day of Service offers students from local colleges an opportunity to add a service component to MLK Day. The event brings Vanderbilt students together with peers from Belmont University, Fisk University, Lipscomb University, Meharry Medical College, Nashville State Community College, Tennessee State University and Trevecca Nazarene University at virtual service sites working with local community partners. The event will open with an address by area university leaders and a keynote by Georgia State Sen. Sonya Halpern before students break out in groups to their virtual service sites.
Jan. 17: MLK Day blood drive
Ben Schulman Center for Jewish Life, noon-6 p.m.
The MLK Day blood drive started four years ago as an additional opportunity for students to perform a meaningful act of community service on such an important holiday. The drive, which is sponsored by Vanderbilt Hillel, is meant to promote the central Jewish value of pikuach nefesh, our commitment to saving lives. All are welcome to participate.
