BROOKINGS For the third straight year, on Jan. 20, South Dakota State University will be the site of the annual Rev. Dr. Martin King Jr. Rally and Marade. The venue is Club 71 in the Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. This years theme, noted on the King Center website, is: Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice and in the Spirit of Nonviolence365.
The rally is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Featured speaker is Jahmal Cole, founder and CEO of My Block My Hood My City. Its recognized as one of the greater Chicago areas fastest growing social impact organizations. Cole is also an advocate of exposure-based education.
Marjoanne Collins, assistant director of Multicultural Affairs and Accessibility at Student Services Support and a key driver behind the now annual event, said, we are excited to partner with SDSU Athletics this year. She cited specifically: SDSU Diversity in Athletics Council, Student Athletic Advisory Committee and Senior Associate Athletic Director Holly Van Vlynmen.
Following the rally comes the marade, a mile walk around campus, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. However, since inclement winter weather in South Dakota in January is always a possibility, a fallback plan is always wise to have.
If its too cold outside and its kind of looking like it might be too cold, well do a walk inside on the track,” Collins said. Mondays daytime temp is forecast to be a few degrees below zero.
The program then wraps up with socializing and appetizers from 12:15 to 1 p.m.
At the end we just want to do something where everybody can talk amongst themselves and socialize with the keynote speaker (Cole) and with any other administration or community members or students who are there, Collins added.
We just want people to come in and warm up with some food and some appetizers and some drinks and then socialize a little bit. Well get some closing remarks and thank everybody for coming.
Collins pointed out that while the rally and marade are being held on campus, this is a community-wide event. Its a great way to bring the community together and to recognize the person who embodies just everybody, as far as wanting to be inclusive and create this sense of belonging in a community. This is open to everybody and its a free event.
Contact John Kubal at [email protected].
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