MLK Day of Service events set at WSUV

Monday will be a day on, not a day off, as Washington State University Vancouver plans a slate of events to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The university’s MLK Day of Service program will be from 9 a.m. to noon in the Firstenburg Student Commons. The event is free and open to the public, although reservations are encouraged. For information and to make a reservation, visit www.vancouver.wsu.edu/mlk.

The theme is “Knowledge into Action.” The event will include a light breakfast, keynote speaker, music, and workshops and activities that focus on social justice issues and promote service in the community.

Workshops will be led by WSU Vancouver faculty. The schedule:

• 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. — Jails and (In)Justice, Exploring the Roots and Ramifications of Mass Incarceration in the United States, Clay Mosher, sociology; Communities of Color and Violence, Laurie Drapela, public affairs; Documentary Films as a Tool for Social Change, Pavithra Narayanan, English.

• 11 a.m. to noon — Political Repression and Our Forgotten Heroes of Black Liberation, Adam Carpinelli, doctoral student in history; Homelessness and Housing, Marcelo Diversi, human development; Equity in Education, Paul Pitre, education.

“The goal of our MLK Jr. Day events is to bring awareness to various issues affecting our communities and to provide ideas and opportunities for people to make a difference,” Bola Majekobaje, assistant director for student diversity, said in a news release. “We hope that the day of service will turn into a lifetime of service for individuals in attendance.”