The National Center for Civil and Human Rights Celebrates Dr. King’s Life and Legacy Through New Programs and Partnerships; Debuts Digital Exhibition
Health & Safety Protocols in Effect with New Technology from Siemens Corporation
ATLANTA, Ga. (Jan. 15, 2021) – The National Center for Civil and Human Rights (The Center) will honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy this holiday weekend with virtual and in-person events on Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day and beyond.
King’s vision for the world—to triumph over oppression and unite humankind—drove his work. He referred to this communal ideal by many names, most notably the Large House, the World House, and the Beloved Community. The Center’s current exhibition of the Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection is called We Share the Dream: King’s Beloved Community. Displayed in The Center’s Voice to the Voiceless gallery, the exhibition examines the philosophical and theological framework behind King’s ideal.
Because of the COVID pandemic, The Center is launching a digital version of the We Share the Dream: King’s Beloved Community, to bring its powerful message to the widest possible audience. The digital exhibition will be available at www.WeShareTheDream.org January 15 (King’s birthday), through April 9, 2021. The Center will also host a virtual program about the exhibition, Friday, January 22 at noon. A panel of experts and scholars will discuss King’s Beloved Community and how the concept of a collective responsibility for the struggles of others informs modern social justice movements. Registration for this program is free and open to the public.
“Though public health concerns have required that far fewer guests than usual visit the Voice to the Voiceless gallery, Dr. King’s Beloved Community is as important now as ever,” says Dr. Calinda Lee, The Center’s head of programs and exhibitions. “Dr. King’s call to understand ‘the unity of all mankind’ remains a beacon to all who follow his charge to ‘take the freedom struggle into every community…without exception.’ We are committed to heeding that call. Our digital exhibition broadens access to share the ideal of the Beloved Community and welcome dialogue with members of that community.”
The Center will also host several socially distanced in-person activities, detailed below. The safety for in-person visits benefits from Siemens’ thermal imaging and air purification technologies, which have been incorporated into The Center’s health and safety protocols. The Center is one of the first cultural institutions in the U.S. to incorporate this technology.
While Siemens is the partner for the aforementioned technologies to The Center, the company was also a cornerstone partner that supported the facility’s groundbreaking. This year, on MLK Day, Siemens is sponsoring a guided virtual tour of The Center for Siemens employees and Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students in an effort to enable more people to access and explore the powerful exhibits inside The Center. In 2013, Siemens contributed $1M to The Center to support the organization’s original capital campaign. Since then, in addition to holding events, Siemens amplified several campaigns, including the Anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights and their grand opening. Siemens and The Center have also worked collaboratively on educational seminars for their employees.
IN PERSON MLK WEEKEND EVENTS AND BEYOND
The Center will be open January 15 – MLK Day January 18. Hours and tickets are available at: https://www.civilandhumanrights.org/visit/. Special events include:
Monday, January 18 (MLK Day)
- The Center will host a MLK themed scavenger hunt in partnership with the Children’s Museum of Atlanta, centered on the Rolls Down Like Water civil rights gallery. Ideal for families and children (pre-K – age 10 and over), the ninety-minute scavenger hunt is available 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Hourly performances of “MLK Day” and “Beautiful Things” by recording artist J. Lungz on Jan. 15 from noon to 3 p.m.
Friday, January 22 – We Share the Dream: King’s Beloved Community virtual panel, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. featuring Dr. Laura Soltis, Executive Director of Freedom University and Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza, Founder of the Activist Theology Project. Register here.
The Center is also partnering with a range of organizations in Atlanta to “unite in service” for MLK Day 2021 with a series of programming honoring King’s legacy. Events will continue through Friday, Jan. 29. For the full list of programs and events, visit mlkatl.org. This partnership includes: Hand On Atlanta, The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center), Morehouse College, The Carter Center, Points of Light, and Ebenezer Baptist Church.
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About the National Center for Civil and Human Rights
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta is a cultural institution that connects the American Civil Rights Movement to the struggle for human rights around the world today. The Center features a continuously rotating exhibit from The Morehouse College Martin Luther King, Jr. Collection, which includes many of Dr. King’s documents and personal items. Visitors will be immersed in experiential exhibits through powerful and authentic stories, historic documents, compelling artifacts, and interactive activities. The Center is a source for ongoing dialogue — hosting educational forums and attracting world-renowned speakers and artists who work on a variety of human rights topics. For more information, visit www.civilandhumanrights.org. Join the conversation on civil and human rights: facebook.com/ctr4chr/ | instagram.com/ctr4chr/ | twitter.com/Ctr4CHR
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