Thursday, January 16, 2025
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration
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Feature by: Tebraie Banda-Johns, Director of the Intercultural Center
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For several years, units from Whitman’s Identity and Belonging area, the Intercultural Center and Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, have partnered with Walla Walla University and other community collaborators to organize a local event celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
This day is a time for us to celebrate, commemorate and honor the life and enduring legacy of Dr. King. This is not a “day off” but a “day on” to remember, to celebrate and to act! Instead of disengaging on this day of celebration, let us be reminded of the continued work to be done.
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“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
-Martin Luther King Jr.
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Monday, Jan. 20, at noon
Begin the day at Reid Campus Center, where we will create posters and signs uplifting King’s words and vision. Additionally, after she speaks at Walla Walla University's CommUnity Service, Marci Correa, University Chapter Coordinator with Adventist Peace Fellowship, will offer words of encouragement to the Whitman community. Her reflections will shape the tone for our celebratory gathering.
1:30 p.m.
From the Reid Campus Center, we will walk to the Gesa Power House Theatre holding high posters, banners and signs we created, symbolizing our commitment to honor King’s work advancing racial justice and equity for marginalized communities.
2 p.m.
At the theater, Dr. Jace Saplan, Senior Director of Identity and Belonging, will deliver an engaging keynote address urging us to reflect on King’s leadership and the connection between Native Hawaiian communities and the broader Civil Rights/Liberation movement.
3 p.m.
Following the keynote, we will end our day of celebration with a time to serve our community. Blue Mountain Action Council is happy for us to help assemble 500 Backpack Bridge bags for students in need as they head back to school. These opportunities provide us the momentum to use what we have learned into sustainable action supporting and uplifting those around us as King encouraged. Thanks to Walla Walla University’s Center for Humanitarian Engagement for organizing this service activity for our community.
We hope you will join us for this day of reflection, inspiration and service. (Flyer attached.) For accommodations and questions please reach out to Tebraie Banda-Johns, Director of the Intercultural Center, at bandajot@whitman.edu.
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Please note that as Monday is also a staff holiday at Whitman College, many offices will be closed and Whitman Today will not be distributed.
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Penrose Library Receives LEAD Award
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Penrose Library has received the 2025 Library Excellence in Access and Diversity (LEAD) Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. The LEAD Award honors academic libraries’ programs and initiatives that encourage and support inclusive excellence and belonging across their campus. Penrose Library will be featured, along with 33 other recipients, in the March 2025 issue of Insight Into Diversity magazine.
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The Office of the President will host a Staff Coffee Break on Thursday, Jan. 16, at 2 p.m. at Reid Campus Center. Enjoy a break to socialize with your colleagues and learn more about the many offices and programs that operate in Reid Campus Center.
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Movement That Matters Begins Next Week
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A new session of Whitman’s employee wellness program Movement That Matters (MTM) begins on Tuesday, Jan. 21. This program offers five different classes each week during the noon hour in Sherwood 106 and 114. Stop by the Student Accounts Office in MEM 233 to pay the $45 enrollment fee. Subscribe to the MTM Google Calendar to track any changes to the schedule. Questions? Email Laura L. Cummings at cumminll@whitman.edu.
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Wellness Webinar Series for Faculty & Staff
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This month, Whitman’s insurance broker is hosting a free webinar series titled “New Year, New Habits.”
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- Thursday, Jan. 16, at 10 a.m.—Financial Well-Being (register)
- Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 11 a.m.—Nicotine Cessation (register)
- Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 10 a.m.—Stress Management (register)
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Staff and faculty are encouraged to attend if the topics meet their interests. (Flyer attached.)
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Earlier this week, Video and Multimedia Producer Patrick Record captured an image of the first full moon of 2025.
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Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.
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Whitman Today is emailed to Whitman College staff, faculty and students twice a week. An archive of previous issues is available online.
All submissions are welcome! If you have accomplishments to celebrate, an event to publicize or other Whitman content to share, email whitmantoday@whitman.edu. Submissions of 125 words or less are due by noon Friday for Monday's edition and by noon Wednesday for Thursday's edition. Submissions may be edited and/or held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. Your submission also authorizes use on Whitman's social media unless otherwise specified.
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Find us on social media: @whitmancollege
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