SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Wofford College will host and participate in a variety of events to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
As they participate in these events, Wofford students, faculty and staff will use the hashtag #WoCoDayOn in social media postings.
These events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. All events will be held on Wofford’s campus, unless other locations are noted.
Friday, Jan. 18
A Showcase of Unity
4-5 p.m.
Sandor Teszler Library, gallery space
“A Showcase of Unity” highlights student artistic works that emphasize the “unity” in “community” while honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The exhibition includes artists’ discussions and features works from individual and collaborative efforts, including a painting by the Organization of Latin American Students and Wofford sophomore Raven Tucker of Spartanburg.
Sponsored by the Association of Multicultural Students, the Black Student Alliance, the Organization of Latin American Students, Wofford Men of Color and Wofford Women of Color
Movie Night: “King in the Wilderness”
6 p.m.
Spartanburg County Public Libraries Headquarters, 151 S. Church St.
Join friends and neighbors in Spartanburg for a viewing of the award-winning documentary released in 2018 chronicling the final chapters of Dr. King’s life and containing some never-before-released footage.
Sponsored by the City of Spartanburg
Saturday, Jan. 19
Spartanburg’s Unity Walk
9 a.m., downtown Spartanburg
Meet Wofford students, faculty and staff at 8:40 a.m. at Wofford’s main gate on Campus Drive to walk downtown together. The short walk in solidarity as Dr. King’s “beloved community” begins at 9 a.m. at the Spartanburg County Public Libraries Headquarters, 151 S. Church St. Wear your Wofford gear to show Spartanburg we show up as members of the same beloved community.
Sponsored by the City of Spartanburg
Sunday, Jan. 20
Poster-Making for Wofford’s Unity March
2 p.m.
Anna Todd Wofford Center Andrews Field House
Bring your creativity and join us to make posters for Wofford’s Unity March on Monday, Jan. 21.
Sponsored by the Black Student Alliance
A Night with King
5-7 p.m.
McMillan Theater, Campus Life Building
Join us for a screening of “Selma,” a movie that highlights one of the most important events in the civil rights movement and explores injustice and perseverance in the fight for equality.
Sponsored by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
MLK Game Night
7-8 p.m.
McMillan Theater, Campus Life Building
We will celebrate the triumphs of the civil rights movement and the legacy of MLK through discussions, games and trivia. Prizes will be awarded.
Sponsored by LGBTerriers
Monday, Jan. 21
MLK Day of Service College Town Spartanburg Kickoff Celebration
8:30-10 a.m.
University of South Carolina Upstate, CLC Ballroom
Speaking Down Barriers, a local organization that provides encounters that transform our lives together across human difference for healing and justice, will lead an interactive activity, and Scott Cochran, president of Spartanburg Methodist College, will be the featured speaker. The kickoff celebration is open to the general public but is geared especially for college students.
Sponsored by College Town Spartanburg
National MLK Day of Service in Spartanburg
Various times in various locations
Dr. King once said, “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve.” All over the nation, millions of Americans will perform service to their communities on this day in honor of Dr. King and his ideals. Be great and join them. Wear your Wofford gear to show Spartanburg we show up as members of the same beloved community.
Authentic Relationships
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Gray-Jones Room, Burwell Building
This interactive session will allow participants to evaluate misinformation about other groups while learning to build authentic bonds with individuals from all identity groups. This is a National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) workshop. Visit ncbi.org to learn more about the organization before the workshop. Register by Thursday, Jan. 17, at goo.gl/forms/R4U6zhkR3yO4Jc5l1.
Sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and The Space in the Mungo Center
Charity and Chai
10-11 a.m.
Seal of Main Building
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?" Bring donated clothing and supplies to help those in need during these winter months. All donations will go to Miracle Hill Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter about five minutes from Wofford. They particularly have need for: general cleaning supplies (mopping solution, toilet bowl cleaner, Swiffer dusters, glass cleaner, trash bags), paper products (plates, utensils, paper towels, toilet paper), hygiene products (deodorant, bar soap, razors, shampoo) and warm clothing (gloves, scarves, hats, socks). You also can Venmo members of the Muslim Student Association or donate cash, and they will pick up the supplies. All donors will receive warm Pakistani chai tea and given information about giving in the Islam religion.
Sponsored by the Muslim Student Association
Intergenerational Connections
10-11 a.m.
Archibald Rutledge Apartments, Common Room, 764 N. Church St.
Join us for a conversation with local older adults to discuss the past, the present and the future of civil rights from multiple perspectives. Register by Thursday, Jan. 17, at sites.wofford.edu/boppkl/home/cic-aarp-grant.
Sponsored by Intergenerational Connections
Non-Violent Communication
10-11:30 a.m.
Franklin W. Olin Building, Room 207A
This workshop will introduce the “non-violent communication method” that includes hands-on activities with a focus on compassion. Participants will practice having difficult conversations in order to improve relationships with others.
Sponsored by Dr. Begoña Caballero-Garcia, dean of diversity and inclusion
Hub City Empty Bowls
10 a.m.-Noon
Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts, Ceramic Arts Studio, Room 010
Empty Bowls is a worldwide social movement led by potters and ceramists who want to alleviate hunger in their communities by involving the public in making bowls. Join Wofford and Spartanburg community members and Hub City Empty Bowls in making pottery bowls (no experience necessary) to help feed the 40,000 food-insecure citizens of Spartanburg County. The bowls made on MLK Day will be fired and finished by professionals and sold, along with gallons of gourmet soup donated by local restaurants, to raise funds. Each year, Hub City Empty Bowls raises more than $30,000 for TOTAL Ministries in Spartanburg. This will be their first public bowl-making event of 2019. Come join the fun and feel the warmth.
Sponsored by the Wofford College Department of Art and Art History, Carolina Clay Artists, JM Smith Foundation, Chris Williams, West Main Artists Co-op and Hub City Empty Bowls
MLK Unity March
11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Anna Todd Wofford Center, Andrews Field House
We will carry the posters made on Sunday, Jan. 20, as we carry on MLK’s legacy of using peace and unity to combat division while participating in a march to celebrate our differences and diverse backgrounds.
Sponsored by the Black Student Alliance
Cemetery Street Cemetery: A Wofford-Sponsored Day of Service to Spartanburg’s Ancestors
1-4 p.m.
Cemetery Street Cemetery, between Winsmith Avenue and Duncan Street
Join Wofford faculty, staff, and students for a day of service in the Cemetery Street Cemetery (formerly "Old City Cemetery"), only an eight-minute drive from Wofford's campus in South Converse. This has been a prominent burial place for African-Americans members of the community since around 1910, and it contains burials dating back to the 1850s (the first official cemetery for African-Americans in Spartanburg was relocated here after railroad expansion). The Wofford participants will be raking leaves, picking up trash, setting fallen stones and other acts of beautification after hearing information about the cemetery's history from the cemetery's board members. Adult-sized work gloves and hot cocoa will be provided. A limited number of seats are available for transportation in vans leaving from Wofford's campus at 12:50 p.m.; contact Dr. Helen Dixon at dixonhm@wofford.edu to reserve a spot. Otherwise, meet at the cemetery (on Cemetery Street between Winsmith Avenue and Duncan Street or use "Cemetery Street" in Google maps) at 1 p.m. This event will be canceled in case of steady rain.
Sponsored by Dr. Helen M. Dixon, assistant professor of religion
Hub City Empty Bowls
1-3 p.m.
Rosalind Sallenger Richardson Center for the Arts, Ceramic Arts Studio, Room 010
Empty Bowls is a worldwide social movement led by potters and ceramists who want to alleviate hunger in their communities by involving the public in making bowls. Join Wofford and Spartanburg community members and Hub City Empty Bowls in making pottery bowls (no experience necessary) to help feed the 40,000 food-insecure citizens of Spartanburg County. The bowls made on MLK Day will be fired and finished by professionals and sold, along with gallons of gourmet soup donated by local restaurants, to raise funds. Each year, Hub City Empty Bowls raises more than $30,000 for TOTAL Ministries in Spartanburg. This will be their first public bowl-making event of 2019. Come join the fun and feel the warmth.
Sponsored by the Wofford College Department of Art and Art History, Carolina Clay Artists, JM Smith Foundation, Chris Williams, West Main Artists Co-op and Hub City Empty Bowls
Cradle to Career Experience
1:30-3:30 p.m.
Franklin W. Olin Building, Room 207A
Join the Cradle to Career Experience to learn more about the educational picture in Spartanburg County through an interactive group experience that shares such topics as countywide achievement statistics, achievement disparities and equity; factors impacting student success; opportunities for community engagement and the impact of strategic resource alignment.
Sponsored by the Spartanburg Academic Movement; United Way of the Piedmont; and Dr. Begoña M. Caballero-Garcia, dean of diversity and inclusion
Desegregation at Wofford
1:45-2:45 p.m.
Library Conference Room, Sandor Teszler Library
In 1964, Wofford became the first private college in South Carolina to desegregate. What was the reaction? Come read and discuss archived letters that illustrate how the college and the community responded.
Sponsored by the Sandor Teszler Library
African Dance
1:45-2:45 p.m.
Anna Todd Wofford Center, Andrews Field House
Learn the history and witness the beauty of African dance in this program presented by former Alvin Ailey dancer Arialle Kennedy Smith of Spartanburg, who trained with Ballet Spartanburg before moving to New York City to train at The Ailey School. Wear comfortable clothing and come ready to participate and have fun.
Sponsored by AVK Dance Studio, Spartanburg
Slamming the Poems of the Past
3-4 p.m.
Center for Community-Based Learning, lobby, Michael S. Brown Village Center
The contributions of African-Americans often are not portrayed in the history books. This interactive session will allow participants to take a deeper look at the representation of African-Americans.
Sponsored by Wofford Women of Color and the Black Student Alliance
Creating a Community in 50 Minutes
3-4 p.m.
Anna Todd Wofford Center, Andrews Field House
Words matter. Words build relationships. Words tell the world who you are. This program will examine how to broaden and deepen the understanding of freedom, safety, value and openness as a basis for a community of shared power and mutuality.
Sponsored by Linda Powers, retired Wofford instructor of communications
Unity Celebration
6:30 p.m.
Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
Please join your friends and neighbors in Spartanburg for the culmination of a wonderful weekend of events. The featured speaker will be Wofford alumnus Darrin Goss Sr. ’93 of the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina. Wear your Wofford gear to show Spartanburg we show up for them (and Goss) as members of the same beloved community.
Sponsored by the City of Spartanburg