College announces Dream Week 2011 events

SHREVEPORT, La. (Centenary News Service) — The Diversity Committee at Centenary College of Louisiana will celebrate the legacy and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during a week-long tribute of events taking place on the College campus January 17-21.

In keeping with the spirit of Dr. King's accomplishments, Dream Week 2011 will honor his contributions with events designed to capture the essence of his message, but also provide the opportunity to reflect on the past while seeking an opportunities to act upon the promise of the future.

Events are free and open to the public unless noted, and include:

Monday, Jan. 17, MLK Service Day:

The week kicks off when Centenary students, staff, faculty and alumni will have the opportunity to take part in the school's 3rd Annual MLK Service Day. The service project will consist of participants working at Creswell and E.B.W. Stoner Hill Elementary schools, and the Querbes Community Center to spruce up the locations through painting, cleaning, and other minor improvements.

Registration is free with breakfast, lunch, and transportation provided. The day will begin at 7:15 a.m. with participants check in at Kilpatrick Auditorium. Volunteers will depart by 8:30 a.m. and will be transported to the work sites, and return to the Centenary campus at 11:45 a.m.

Visit http://www.unitedwaynwla.org/MLK_Day.php to register for the service-day project.

Tuesday, Jan. 18, CONVOCATION, 11 a.m., in the Whited Room of Bynum Commons:

Victor Labat will be the featured speaker. Labat has more than forty years of experience in both the private industry and the Federal Government. His experience included senior Federal management positions, and management and technical consulting to foundations, institutions of higher learning, and private industry, both within the United States and internationally.

As Chairman of LABAT-ANDERSON Inc., he directed a multidisciplinary professional consulting corporation of specialist providing domestic and international management services to government and private industries. Incorporated in 1989, the company has grown from a small business to a staff of nearly 2,000 over a 17-year period, and operates in more than 35 countries worldwide.

Mr. Labat has actively supported the development of major Federal minority development programs. He has been a participant in and a supporter of the Small Business Administration's 8(a) program. He was an advisor to the U.S. Department of Labor in its restructuring of the District of Columbia Department of Employment. He also served as the Associate Director for the Educational Resource Center on School Desegregation at Tulane University in the late 1960s. He was requested to join a group of desegregation experts to assist the U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, the Assistant Attorney General of Justice, Civil Rights of Division to design and implement a strategy to desegregate schools throughout the southern United States.

Tuesday, Jan. 18, film AMERICAN VIOLET, 7:45 p.m., Robinson Film Center, located at 617 Texas St, Shreveport:
(Discussion to follow film)

Based on true events during the 2000 election, American Violet tells the astonishing story of Dee Roberts (critically hailed newcomer Nicole Beharie), a 24 year-old African American single mother of four young girls living in a small Texas town who is barely able to make ends meet.

While police drag Dee from work in handcuffs, dumping her in the squalor of the women's county prison, the powerful local district attorney (Academy Award® nominee Michael O'Keefe) leads an extensive drug bust, sweeping her housing project with military precision. Dee soon discovers she has been charged as a drug dealer.

Even though Dee has no prior drug record and no drugs were found on her in the raid, she is offered a hellish choice: plead guilty and go home as a convicted felon or remain in prison, jeopardizing her custody and risking a long prison sentence.

She chooses to fight the district attorney and the unyielding criminal justice system, risking everything in a battle that forever changes her life and the Texas justice system. American Violet also stars Academy Award® nominee Alfre Woodard, Emmy Award® winner Charles S. Dutton, Tim Blake Nelson, Will Patton and Xzibit.

NOTE: American Violet was initially inspired by an NPR story by Wade Goodwyn.

Wednesday, Jan. 19, Philosophy Discussion Group, 7 p.m., James Hall:
Topic: Civil Disobedience in the 21st Century
Martin Luther King Jr. broke the law. He struck against injustice. He knew what he was doing was dangerous, but he thought that sometimes, civil disobedience can serve justice. Recently, Julian Assange and WikiLeaks see themselves as taking on a 21st century injustice. They see themselves as heros who break the law to undermine "conspiracies" which, in their view, immorally keep information from the public. Needless to say, others view their actions differently. When is civil disobedience justified? Is Assange justified in breaking the law? Or has he recklessly endangered people who would protect our rights? What will civil disobedience look like in the 21st century?

Visit our webpage or RSVP to email to reserve a seat.

Thursday, Jan. 20, CONVOCATION, 11 a.m., Kilpatrick Auditorium
Pastor Brady Blade Sr. will speak on Civil Rights in Shreveport. Blade is Pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in Shreveport.

Thursday, Jan. 20, Halleluiah Train, 7p.m., Marjorie Lyons Playhouse:
Gospel singer Pastor Brady Blade Sr. and his sons, Brady Blade, Jr. and Brian Blade, headline The Hallelujah Train. The performance not only features the trio, but also musicians Chris Thomas, Mark Griffin and Al Perkins, along with the choir from the Zion Baptist Church in Shreveport. The performance combines gospel with rock and roll, folk music, country, indie rock and jazz.

Tickets will go on sale January 10 at the Marjorie Lyons Playhouse for $5. For more information, call the Box Office at 318.869.5242.

Pastor Blade has led Zion Baptist Church in Shreveport, La. for nearly 50 years. His son, renowned jazz drummer Brian Blade, is known for his work with the Wayne Shorter Quartet as well as Joni Mitchell and Emmylou Harris.

Dream Week 2011 is sponsored by the Centenary College Diversity Committee, SGA, the Office of Community, the Centenary Muses and the United Way. For more information on the Dream Week events, contact Dr. Kelly Weeks at 318.869.5183.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and has been recognized as "One of the Best 371 Colleges" by the Princeton Review and one of "America's Best Colleges" and one of "America's Best Private Colleges" by Forbes.com. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.