Trine plans MLK celebration during Black History Week

Trine plans MLK celebration during Black History Week

ANGOLA — Trine University will explore “True Value” during its 21st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, which will take place Feb. 21-25, which is Black History Week at the school.  The event will feature the World Champion Gold Medalist Voices of Unity Youth Choir, a step dance team from North Side High School, a Soul Food Fest and keynote speaker David Taylor.

Taylor will speak Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in Fabiani Theatre on Trine’s main campus in Angola. Taylor is a graduate of Ball State University and is a licensed mental health therapist, life coach, entrepreneur and aspiring author who specializes in working with juvenile delinquents, college students and young adults.

“In keeping with the theme of the week, ‘Why does Dr. King’s life still matter?’ I plan to touch on the concepts of personal value, self-worth, life purpose and life vision,” Taylor said.

Taylor previously served as the keynote speaker for Ball State University’s Martin Luther King Jr. program for high school students. He also spoke at Black Issues Conferences at Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, and Ball State. He earned the Governor’s Award for Tomorrow’s Leaders in 2007. He and his wife live in Orlando, Fla., where he works as the clinical coordinator for the Henry and Rilla White Youth Foundation.

Before Taylor’s presentation, the Voices of Unity Youth Choir, a youth choral group based in Fort Wayne that won two gold medals at the sixth World Choir Games in Shaoxing, China, in July 2010, will perform. The group also was honored by the U.S. Senate and recognized and congratulated in the Congressional Record by U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh.

The public also is invited to join the Trine community Monday, Feb. 21, from 5-7 p.m. for a Soul Food Fest. Trine University’s partner in food service, Bon Appetit Management Company, will serve traditional recipes created by African Americans. Potato and corn salad, mustard greens, ham bone, Shelby County corn on a stick, grits and hoppin' john, okra gumbo, macaroni and cheese, Mississippi catfish fry and hush puppies, country ribs, Creole chicken and banana bread pudding with rum sauce will be served. Cost is $10.50 per person.

North Side High School's Step Team will perform Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 8 p.m. as part of the weeklong celebration. This will be an informal gathering, resembling a jam session.

The movie, “The Great Debaters,” will be shown free of charge Thursday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. in Fabiani Theatre. The film is rated PG-13 and stars Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker and Kimberly Elise. The drama is based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship.

The celebration is sponsored by Trine’s office of student life, the office of student success and retention and Trine’s multicultural student organization. For more information about the weeklong celebration, contact Deborah McHenry at 665-4509.