{"id":72659,"date":"2018-01-08T11:15:33","date_gmt":"2018-01-08T17:15:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.olemiss.edu\/?p=72659"},"modified":"2018-01-11T14:51:17","modified_gmt":"2018-01-11T20:51:17","slug":"um-students-staff-join-community-mlk-day-service-activities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web20.olemiss.edu\/news\/wordpress\/um-students-staff-join-community-mlk-day-service-activities\/","title":{"rendered":"UM Students, Staff Join Community for MLK Day of Service Activities"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Brian Foster, UM assistant professor of sociology and Southern studies, speaks during the opening ceremony of the 2017 MLK Day of Service. Photo by Robert Jordan\/Ole Miss Communications<\/p><\/div>\n

OXFORD, Miss. \u2013 University of Mississippi<\/a> students, staff and community partners are spearheading efforts to promote community engagement and encourage a spirit of service in Lafayette County and Oxford during 2018 Martin Luther King Jr. Day observances.<\/p>\n

The Lafayette-Oxford-University MLK Day of Service opening ceremony is set for 10:30 a.m. Jan. 15 at the Burns-Belfry Museum and Multicultural Center.<\/p>\n

Program participants include: Oxford Alderman Ulysses “Coach” Howell; Jeff Busby, of the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors; and Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter. The Rev. C. Edward “CJ” Rhodes II, pastor of Mt. Helm Baptist Church of Jackson, will deliver the keynote address.<\/p>\n

“I am very humbled and honored to be asked to deliver the keynote for such a historic occasion,” said Rhodes, the 23rd and youngest pastor of Jackson’s oldest historically black church. “As we look back on the achievements and sacrifices of Dr. King and others, this generation is challenged to do great things not just for themselves, but for others and the world as well.”<\/p>\n

The son of famed civil rights attorney Carroll Rhodes Sr., Rhodes earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from UM in 2004. He continued his education at Duke Divinity School, where he served as vice president of the Black Seminarians Union in Raleigh, North Carolina.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Rev. Carroll Edward Rhodes II, pastor of the Mt. Helms Baptist Church in Jackson and a UM alumnus, will deliver the keynote address during the community’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance. Submitted photo<\/p><\/div>\n

Rhodes serves on the board of the Urban League of Greater Jackson, the Center for Ministry and the Mississippi Religious Leadership Conference, and is the former president of the Farish Street\/Main Street Project. The recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, he also serves as host of “The CJ Rhodes Show” on WRBJ-97.7 FM and is author of “Thy Kingdom Come: Reflections on Pastoral and Prophetic Ministry.”<\/p>\n

Following the keynote, awards will be presented to outstanding LOU volunteers in four categories: a community member and one student apiece from the Oxford School District, the Lafayette County School District and the university. All recipients are to be announced at the ceremony.<\/p>\n

“The Office of Leadership and Advocacy is proud to work once again, side-by-side with so many excellent community partners,” said Hal Sullivan, coordinator of student affairs programs at UM. “Our goal, in the spirit of Dr. King, is to encourage reflection, action and redefine ‘service’ for this community.”<\/p>\n

Other activities scheduled are:<\/p>\n

Saturday (Jan. 13):<\/p>\n

Second Annual Community Reading of “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” 5 p.m., Off-Square Books. Readers include members from the LOU community to acknowledge one of King’s most powerful works.<\/p>\n

Monday (Jan. 15):<\/p>\n