This year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration will feature welcomes from Mayor Fraley, and Chief Scott from the City of Berea as well as President Roelofs of Berea College. We will hear musical performances from the Black Music Ensemble, the Blue Grass Ensemble, and an original piece “I Won’t Be Quiet” by Abigail Sell, performed by The Folk Roots Ensemble. We will see the premiere of two short-form theater pieces–“Say Her Name: Breonna Taylor” and “Empty Chairs” written and performed by Amoni Adair–and we will hear from our keynote speaker, Dr. Drew G. I. Hart.

About Dr. Drew G.I. Hart

Dr. Hart is a professor in theology, an author, and an activist with 10 years of pastoral experience. His undergraduate work was in biblical studies at Messiah College; he received his Master of Divinity degree with an urban concentration at Biblical Seminary; and he earned a Ph.D. in the field of theology and ethics at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.

After his undergraduate studies, Dr. Hart spent most of his time pastoring and mentoring Black and brown youth, working for an inner city after-school program, and working closely with Philadelphia-based nonprofits. Today, along with teaching theology, he continues to partner with community groups and churches across the country by facilitating anti-racism trainings, seminars, as well as delivering lectures and talks for colleges and conferences.

Regularly speaking across the country, Dr. Hart brings together his pastoral experience with his academic training to challenge us all to keep moving toward justice. Particularly invested in writing and speaking about white supremacy/racism and their entanglements with western Christianity, Dr. Hart also speaks and writes about Christian discipleship, western Christiandom, Christian history, liberation and oppression, radical peacemaking and nonviolent resistance, and urban ministry. Co-sponsored with the Black Cultural Center, Carter G. Woodson Center, African and African-American Studies, CCC, and the Office of the President. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Convocation.