Today we celebrate the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Lecture at Gustavus. I hope that you can join me in Christ Chapel at 10 a.m. for our keynote speaker, the Rev. Dr. Luke Powery, Dean of the Duke University Chapel.
Rev. Dr. Powery will speak on Martin Luther King Jr.’s concept of the “world house,” an idea that is as relevant today as it was when King wrote about it over 50 years ago. The notion beckons us to live together in harmony regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or nationality.
At Gustavus, we are building our own “world house.” We can see tangible evidence that the diversity of our student body is growing. Today, over 20 percent of our students represent historically underrepresented groups, the number of international students is increasing, and we are successfully recruiting students from a variety of socioeconomic and family backgrounds. Across our campus, we are working to support our increasingly diverse community with a network of support and learning opportunities. Our work includes everything from the President’s Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to increased scholarship funding for deserving students of all backgrounds to the daily programming in the Bonnier Multifaith Center.
The work of equity and inclusion belongs to all of us, and all of us can help make Gustavus a welcoming community. With that in mind, I invite you to join me this afternoon from 2:30-4 p.m. for a Critical Dialogue Symposium in the Heritage Banquet Room. Held as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day events, the facilitated discussion will explore how to build authentic community across racial, ethnic, national, socioeconomic, and religious divides.
As we grow toward becoming a College that reflects the world we live in, take a moment this week to extend the welcoming spirit of the Gustavus community to everyone you meet.
Until next week, keep up the good work, Gusties!
With respect,
Becky