Speeches, vigil commemorate MLK

For many in the Penn community, yesterday's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday was not simply a day off from classes - it was a chance to reflect on the life of a hero and to live out his message of social justice.

From painting with youngsters to cleaning a school to an evening candlelight vigil, the University community celebrated King's 79th birthday with a jam-packed day of tributes and community service.

The day started early for those involved, with speeches from Penn President Amy Gutmann and music mogul Kenny Gamble commemorating the day and kicking off a series of events held as part of Penn's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.

Throughout the day, students from the College Houses and various student groups met at Houston Hall to help senior citizens and area children in projects from making pillows to recording books on tape. They also helped prepare care packages for local homeless shelters.

Jeremy Brochin, director of Penn Hillel, was one of the leaders of a project helping Philadelphia elementary school students paint banners celebrating liberty and equality, ideals he said the group closely associates with King.

The Medical, Dental, Nursing and Law Schools also teamed up to provide medical screenings and free legal advice to area residents who otherwise could not afford such options.

Elsewhere, Penn students traveled to Shaw Middle School, where they helped clean up and paint the historic building that has long been the subject of city efforts to renovate the area's oldest and most run-down schools.

The evening culminated with moving tributes to King's message, including a program at Houston Hall featuring a group of ministers from local churches.

This group, which calls itself The Men of Light, paid tribute to King's legacy through a program entitled. "Picking up the mantel: more than a day, longer than a season."

The event featured moving, sermon-style lectures that focused on King's contributions to African Americans and mankind, as well as what individuals can do to follow King's example on a daily basis.

"We want to inspire people to pick up Dr. Kings's mantel," said Reverend Van Copeland, Jr., director of the event. "This should be an everyday thing."

Also at the Men of Light program, author Netfa Slaughter read inspiring poems from his book, Victory Report.

A candlelight vigil was carried out by Penn students near DuBois College House later in the evening.

Events celebrating King's life will continue on campus through Feb. 1 through a series of lectures, films and discussions called "Opening Minds to a Diverse Democracy."

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