Centenary College celebrates Dream Week 2013

Centenary College is celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy through Dream Week 2013. Here is a list of events going on through Saturday:

Dream Week Convocation: Dr. C. O. Simpkins

January 22, 11:00 a.m., Whited Room in Bynum Commons

Dr. C. O. Simpkins worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the local and national Civil Rights Movement, helping register black voters and bringing equal resources to all schools. He originally met King in Chicago and eventually welcomed the Civil Rights leader to Shreveport in August 1958 for the United Christian Conference on Registration and Voting. Simpkins served as a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1992-1996.

 Film: Beyond Galilee

January 22, 7:30 p.m., Robinson Film Center

In August 1958, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was invited to Shreveport to deliver a speech at the Galilee Baptist Church as part of a voter registration workshop. Beyond Galilee explores how King's prophetic words unfolded in the years that followed by highlighting the key events of the city's struggle for civil rights. The film shares the testimonies of the actual participants as well as rare audio of King's speech, news footage, home movies, and photos from the era.

 Theatre Performance: ZHE: [noun] Undefined

January 23 & 25, 7:30 p.m., Marjorie Lyons Playhouse

Presented by Collective Artistes, ZHE will have its American debut at Centenary, January 23, with a second performance January 25. A discussion session will follow each performance with Dr. Jeanne Hamming as moderator.

Based on the true-life stories of the performers, Antonia Kemi Coker and Tonderai Munyevu, ZHE follows the lives of two British Africans living at the crossroads of culture, nationality, gender, and sexuality. Traveling from idyllic Harare, Zimbabwe, to London's gritty inner city; from the playfulness of childhood to the pain of adolescence; from the desire for forgiveness to self-acceptance, this humorous yet haunting drama takes a fresh look at what makes us who we are.

 Dream Week Convocation: Mr. Larry Robinson

January 24, 11:00 a.m., Gold Dome

Larry Robinson '05 will discuss his experience playing in the NBA as a shooting guard for eight different NBA teams, including the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. He also played in CBA, IBL, USBL, and abroad in Europe (France, Spain), the Philippines, Venezuela and Puerto Rico. Robinson earned championship rings with the Houston Rockets (NBA) and the Yakima Sun Kings (CBA). Prior to his professional career, Robinson played two seasons each for Eastern Oklahoma State College and Centenary College.

 "The Conversation" with Chuck Mike

January 24, 7:30 p.m., Marjorie Lyons Playhouse

Chuck Mike, the director of ZHE, will discuss his work as a distinguished actor, producer, director, and theatre activist. He is the founding director of The Performance Studio Workshop and Collective Artistes. His recent plays include The Meeting, The Lion and the Jewel, Sense of Belonging, and Things Fall Apart.

Mike also teaches at various institutions across the globe including the Universities of Ife and Ibadan (Nigeria), Leeds, Oxford and The Royal National Theatre Studio (UK), and New York University.

 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratory Competition

January 26, 1:00 p.m., Kilpatrick Auditorium

The Mahogany Ensemble Theatre will present the 2^nd annual Dr. MLK Oratory Competition, showcasing youth orators and emerging leaders in the Shreveport-Bossier area. Founding Artistic Director Angelique Feaster Evans '95 notes the importance of youth involvement in Dream Week:

"This year's oratory event during Dream Week will provide a great opportunity for area youth to further understand and appreciate the significance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the impact of the local Civil Rights Movement on our lives today."