The Office for Coalition Building and Diversity Education (CBDE), the Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment (CCEE), and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Committee have announced that the 2021 Martin Luther King, Jr. Evening of Reflection will be held on Thursday, January 28, 2021.
The 2021 theme, the Burning House, recalls a statement that Dr. King made shortly before his death: “I’ve come upon something that disturbs me deeply. We have fought hard and long for integration, as I believe we should have, and I know we will win, but I have come to believe that we are integrating into a burning house.”
George Mason University is committed to diversity excellence and inclusion, and to addressing the hard questions of where we are as a people and nation. This theme acknowledges that in some spaces, many voices are often silenced, identities overlooked, and racial and social healing are not pursued. Now, more than ever, it is important that we come together while embodying the values of Dr. King.
University events honoring Dr. King’s legacy
As the university prepares to commemorate Dr. King, the CBDE, CCEE, and the Commemoration Committee invite all units to share their programmatic initiatives planned for the month or week of January 25, 2021 that will honor Dr. King’s legacy, so that they may make the opportunities available to Mason students and the campus. They have shared a link to collect the event information.
Spirit of King Awards
As part of the Evening of Reflection ceremony, the Committee will present the Spirit of King Awards to acknowledge the great contributions to the work of social justice and inclusive excellence by Mason students, staff, and faculty.
The annual Spirit of King Awards recognize students, faculty members, and staff members who have made exceptional contributions to development and who enhance our diverse campus community.
The committee is now accepting nominations for seven awards:
- Resounding Voice Award
- Emerging Alumni Award
- Superior Service Project Award
- Yara Mowafy Award
- Spirit of King Award – Student
- Spirit of King Award – Faculty
- Spirit of King Award – Staff
Descriptions of the awards and nomination forms are available online.
All nominations are due by Friday, January 8, 2021 by 5:00 pm.
December 08, 2020