The Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Center
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Cultural Center first opened its doors on the UK campus on January 15, 1986, coinciding with the first national observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. Since that time, the center has earned an outstanding reputation for its vital contribution to the university’s efforts to recruit and retain a multicultural student body as well as its work in advancing cross-cultural awareness and understanding.
Goals
The central purpose of the King Cultural Center is to contribute positively to the recruitment and retention of African American and Latino students by helping to make the campus a more hospitable, supportive environment. To achieve this goal, the King Cultural Center offers a relaxed, yet stimulating environment where all students can interact and be enriched through cultural exchange. The center also serves as a vital resource for the entire university community to be exposed to a wide variety of cultural, educational and social activities reflective of the African American and Latino American Experience. The center works to achieve its mission through three means: 1] Cultural Programming 2] Student Support and Development and 3] Community Outreach and Engagement.
Values
The King Cultural Center stands on the conviction that education is more than that which is learned in the classroom. The guiding philosophy of the center is that the development of social and cultural consciousness is a vital dimension to becoming a truly educated person. Likewise, educated people should be knowledgeable of and sensitive to the real essence of people of other cultures. The search to discover our authentic cultural and historical selves should be central to our pursuit of formal education---an enlightened education which serves our best interests as well as the best interests of our communities.
Library & Archives
The library of the King Cultural Center serves as a valuable resource to persons interested in research on African and Latino culture and heritage. The library contains approximately 1,500 volumes of hardback and paperback books ranging from fiction to reference books, as well as a wide selection of journals and periodicals. The center’s holdings also include an extensive video and DVD collection which features presentations by African American and Latino scholars, artists, documentaries, cultural presentations, and more. All UK students, faculty and staff may borrow circulating materials.
Major Initiatives
In recent years, the King Cultural Center has taken on several initiatives to introduce new traditions and build on existing ones. Listed below is a sampling of the many programs we have sponsored.
Distinguished Alumni Series
This series of presentations by UK alums was designed to provide inspiration and insight to currently enrolled students by meeting and hearing about the challenges and life experiences of a select group of successful alumni.
Waiting To Exhale
This popular women’s empowerment group provides female students with an outlet to dialogue about issues of particular pertinence to women [i.e. relationships, depression, gender-bias, post-collegiate careers, etc.].
Greek Week
This week of activities and programs, co-sponsored with the National Pan-Hellenic Council, was a designed to examine the historical legacy and the contemporary status of the nine historically African American fraternities and sororities. Program activities included a panel discussion, a film screening, a presentation by a national scholar on African American Greek life and a Greek Jeopardy: Battle of the Sexes quiz bowl challenge.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Candlelight Vigil
More than 500 students, staff and faculty participated in this midnight march and vigil offered in tribute to the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.. The vigil was highlighted by dramatic depictions of historic episodes in African American history as well as inspirational presentations by three UK students.
Honoring Our Lineage
This inspirational gala dinner and celebration is designed to recognize the lifetime achievement of a select group of distinguished African American and Latino alumni and introduce them as valuable role models to our currently enrolled students. This program was co-sponsored by Student Government.
Harambee Celebration
This ceremony was designed to give special recognition to a diverse group of UK graduates from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds and academic programs, both graduate and undergraduate programs. A group of over 200 family and friends were on hand to hear a congratulatory message by the UK Provost and extend best wishes to the honored graduates.
Staff
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Veleashia SmithDirector, Martin Luther King Jr. Cultural Center |
Ruth SlaughterAdministrative Support Associate133 Student Center, Lexington, KY 40536 859-257-4130 Fax: 859-257-7535 |