{"id":1931,"date":"2024-11-20T14:39:33","date_gmt":"2024-11-20T19:39:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/mlk\/?page_id=1931"},"modified":"2025-12-08T16:38:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T21:38:18","slug":"martin-luther-king-jr-day-2024","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/mlk\/past-observances\/martin-luther-king-jr-day-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Centered on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day offered a community-wide opportunity to discuss, teach, and reflect on the legacy of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2024 theme was Food Justice<\/em>, featuring keynote speaker Bryant Terry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

2pm | Film and Discussion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Screening and discussion<\/em>. The film Gather<\/em> follows the stories of Native Americans <\/a>from four tribes who are on the frontlines of a growing movement to reconnect with spiritual and cultural identities that were devastated by genocide.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Moderators<\/strong>: Daphne Comeau, Academic Administrative Assistant; Joe Hall, Associate Professor of History; Jennifer Hamilton, Professor of Anthropology; Stephanie Pridgeon, Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: Olin 104<\/em> | Reserve ticket here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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7\u20138pm | MLK Day Spoken Word Festival<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Presentation<\/em>: The Multifaith Chaplaincy convenes an evening of powerful words and uplifting songs to celebrate the many voices of the movement that propelled Martin Luther King Jr. We will hear from poets, spoken word artists, and musicians, including original works by students, faculty, and the evening’s special guest, Maya Williams, poet laureate of Portland, Maine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location:<\/em> Gomes Chapel<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Monday, Jan. 15<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

9\u201310:30am | The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Keynote<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\"man<\/a>
Keynote speaker and presenter Bryant Terry is an award-winning chef, food justice activist, and critically acclaimed author.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Welcoming Remarks
<\/strong>Tyler Harper, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President\u2019s Welcome<\/strong>
<\/strong>Garry W. Jenkins, President of Bates College<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction of Keynote Speaker<\/strong>
<\/strong>Phoebe Stern \u201824<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keynote Address<\/strong>
Bryant Terry<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing<\/strong>
James Reese, Associate Dean for International Student Programs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: Gomes Chapel<\/em> | Reserve ticket here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10:45am\u201312:15pm | Workshops: Session I<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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MLK: Now Is the Time<\/em> VR Experience<\/strong> (also offered in Session II)
Presentation<\/em>: This 17-minute immersive virtual-reality experience offers participants the feeling of marching among the 250,000-plus people who joined the historic March on Washington in 1963 and heard King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Presenters<\/strong>: Dale Rothenberg, academic technology consultant, 3D technologies; Branden Rush, senior academic technology consultant VR\/AR and 3D technologies
Sponsors<\/strong>: Curricular & Research Computing, Bates VizLab<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: VizLab, Coram 103<\/em> | This event is sold out<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Food Justice in Science Fiction Futures<\/strong>
Discussion<\/em>: Explore manners in science fiction, delving into the intersection of food sovereignty, genetic modification, and capitalism. Discussion includes story analysis and broader context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presenter:<\/strong> Mac Gaither \u201824
Sponsor:<\/strong> Program in Environmental Studies

Location: Dana 219<\/em><\/em> | | <\/a>Reserve ticket here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Working for Food and Land Justice
<\/strong>Panel discussion:<\/em> A roundtable discussion aimed at foregrounding organizations working towards food and land justice in Lewiston\/Auburn and southern Maine. Representatives from the Somali Bantu Community Association, St. Mary’s Nutrition Center, Presente!, and Land in Common share their expertise about the challenges in reaching food sovereignty in the region, particularly for people historically with limited access to land. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moderators<\/strong>: Visiting Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Christine Martinez, Professor of Environmental Studies and Christian A. Johnson Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies Holly Ewing
Sponsor<\/strong>: Program in Environmental Studies<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: Pettengill G21<\/em> | Reserve ticket here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Decarbonization and Energy Equity<\/strong>
Presentation and discussion<\/em>: A description of climate change science and its implications for humanity; discussion of new energy technologies and their associated equity issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presenter<\/strong>: Professor of Physics John Smedley
Sponsor<\/strong>: Department of Physics and Astronomy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: Pettengill G52<\/em> | Reserve ticket here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fueling Mental Well-being: Food and Mental Health<\/strong>
Panel discussion:<\/em> <\/strong>A discussion sponsored by Bates Counseling and Psychological Services about how food and diet intersect with college students’ mental health, including strategies for managing stress and promoting mental well-being, and ways in which food intersects with these areas. Part of this presentation will discuss disordered eating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Panelists<\/strong>: Wendy Kjeldgaard, Psy.D., psychologist, Bates CAPS; Brandon Ouelette, LCPC, counselor, Bates CAPS; Heidi Walls, M.D., medical director, Bates Sports Medicine
Moderators<\/strong>: Wayne Assing, LCSW, director of Bates CAPS; and Susanna Preziosi, Psy.D., psychologist, Bates CAPS
Sponsor<\/strong>: Bates Counseling and Psychological Services

Location: Pettengill G65<\/em> | Reserve ticket here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Farmworkers at the Heart of Maine\u2019s Food System
<\/strong>Presentation<\/em>: Farmworkers are essential to the U.S. food system yet face stigma and discrimination. Presenters from Maine Mobile Health Program<\/a> will share the history and experiences working with Maine’s seasonal farmworkers. Participants will increase their understanding of Maine’s food system and the people who work in these industries, with opportunities to check their own biases, build awareness, and learn about action steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presenters<\/strong>: Hannah Miller ’14 and Laura Valencia Orozco, Maine Mobile Health Program
Sponsor<\/strong>: Maine Mobile Health Program<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: Hedge 106<\/em> | Reserve ticket here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lunch and Midday Programming<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

11am\u20131pm<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Lunch<\/strong>
Special price of $7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: Commons<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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12:15\u20134:30pm <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Just Flour<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Workshop: <\/em>Two-session workshop intertwines African American baking, environmental justice discussions, and hands-on bread making. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Led by<\/strong>: Phoebe Stern ’24 and Tyler Harper, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: Roger Williams G17<\/em> | This event is sold out<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1:15\u20132:45pm | Workshops: Session II<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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MLK: Now Is the Time<\/em> VR Experience<\/strong>
Presentation<\/em>: This 17-minute immersive virtual-reality experience offers participants the feeling of marching among the 250,000-plus people who joined the historic March on Washington in 1963 and heard King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Presenters<\/strong>: Dale Rothenberg, academic technology consultant, 3D technologies; Branden Rush, senior academic technology consultant VR\/AR and 3D technologies
Sponsors<\/strong>: Curricular & Research Computing, Bates VizLab<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: VizLab, Coram 103<\/em> | Reserve ticket here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bringing Halal School Meals to Southern Maine: Addressing Nutrition Insecurity, Engaging Community, and Supporting Food Service Staff<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Panel discussion: <\/em>The alarming rate of food insecurity in U.S. schools disproportionately impacts halal-observing students. The Halal School Meals Network, based in Portland, Maine, will be among the first community-led pilot programs in the country to bring certified halal school meals to nearly 30 schools in Portland, Westbrook, and South Portland. HSMN is engaging key stakeholders, including community advocates, local and national food security nonprofits, and the local food service directors and staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presenters<\/strong>: Amelia Keleher \u201821, Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America; Khadija Ahmed, Good Shepherd Food Bank, Food For All Services; Lily Chaleff, farm to school coordinator and food justice consultant; Firdaws Hakizimana, Immigrant Welcome Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sponsors:<\/strong> Program in Gender and Sexuality Studies, Department of Religious Studies, Program in American Studies, Department of Anthropology<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: Pettengill G52<\/em> | Reserve ticket here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Young Mainers’ Efforts for Food and Climate Justice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presentation: <\/em>Beginning with presentation of Youth Food Champion Awards to five contributors to a healthier food system in Lewiston-Auburn, followed by Scarlet Labbe-Watson discussing Maine’s food sovereignty and climate justice connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presenter<\/strong>: Scarlet Labbe-Watson, Maine Youth for Climate Justice
Sponsor<\/strong>: Good Food Council of Lewiston-Auburn<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: Pettengill G21<\/em> | Reserve ticket here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Alicia Kennedy on Food and Food Justice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presentation:<\/em> Kennedy, author of No Meat Required: The Cultural History and Culinary Future of Plant-Based Eating,<\/em> offers a Zoom lecture on food and food justice. In her weekly newsletter, From the Desk of Alicia Kennedy<\/em>, with more than 25,000 subscribers, Kennedy writes about food culture, politics, and media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presenter<\/strong>: Alicia Kennedy (via Zoom)
Sponsor<\/strong><\/strong>: Research Services of Bates Information and Library Services, American Studies and Latin American Studies<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: Dana 204<\/em> | Reserve ticket here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Lot On Your Plate? Halfway to Zero at Bates<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Workshop and field trip<\/em>: Bates faces food waste despite sustainability efforts. This workshop aims to address inequities and environmental damages inherent in food waste through data collection, resource processing, and brainstorming sessions combined with lectures and hands-on work. This two-session workshop includes a visit to We Compost It in Auburn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presenters<\/strong>: Mariam Almzainy \u201827, Miles Kaufman \u201826, James Usher \u201826 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: Commons 201<\/em> | Reserve ticket here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Food Demonstration by Bryant Terry<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demonstration<\/em>: MLK Day keynote speaker Bryant Terry, a James Beard Award\u2013winning chef, educator, author, and activist, shares his passion for the intersection of food and culture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presenter<\/strong>: Bryant Terry<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: Commons 221\/222 <\/em>| This event is sold out<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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3\u20134:30pm | Workshops: Session III<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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Namibia, the German Genocide, and the Lack of Land: A Film Screening and Discussion with Filmmakers of Nuh-Mi-Bee-Uhn<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Film and Discussion:<\/em> <\/strong>The documentary Nuh-Mi-Bee-Uhn<\/em> delves into the 1904\u201308 German genocide in Namibia<\/a>. Bridging geography and time, the film describes the indelible and far-reaching impacts of the genocide and the ongoing struggle for reparations and reconciliation in Namibia, where land is at the heart of conversations about genocide and its afterlives. Most descendants of survivors live in rural and barren areas, while white minority Namibians own up to 75 percent of the country’s arable land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n