23-02-2025
Honoring MLK Jr.'s life in Dunmore
DUNMORE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Music, video, and words highlighted a Black History Month presentation honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the campus of Penn State Scranton Campus in Dunmore.
28/22 News Reporter Gianna Galli has more about a national touring group that organized the presentation in January that focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
National touring group, King's Dream, wanted their performance at Penn State Scranton to be a powerful one.
In front of students, faculty, staff, and people in the community, the group orchestrated a multi-media presentation to relive the most memorable events in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life.
'That's the whole part of it: To educate the youth of today about the civil rights movement, because they don't know anything about that and it's not really taught like that to that degree in schools,' said cast member for King's Dream Stephen Wise.
King's Dream presentation is looking to change that. The group tours all across the tri-state area, combining music, video, and story-telling into their live concert multi-media presentations.
A slide show captured the drama, pain, and perseverance of the Civil Rights Movement.
It showed the struggles Dr. King endured for his efforts in creating social change and racial equality.
Black Broadway preserves history and fosters creativity among local youth
'Dr. King lived through a very difficult period. I cannot imagine myself not being allowed to sit in certain places on a bus, or not being allowed to drink from a fountain, or enter a restaurant because of my looks, whether it is black, or anything else,' former Penn State Scranton Chancellor Dr. Marwan Wafa said.
While remembering the testaments of Dr. King's life, Dr. Wafa and his wife, Sahar Al Masari were recognized for work at Penn State Scranton.
They were honored with the External Excellence in Diversity Award.
The former Penn State Scranton Chancellor from 2015 to 2024 and his wife Sahar created the Diversity Circles Program at Penn State that brings together groups of individuals to expand diversity awareness.
'Diversity is something, is very very important for the world to really understand what that means, and to be living in a higher education world right now, and seeing the diverse effect here,' Student Activities Coordinator Nikki Paolicelli stated.
Paolicelli is grateful people at her school had the chance to be a part of that difference in an impactful way.
'I think it served the community very very well to see a great crowd,' Paolicelli explained.
'The dream. Keep the dream alive,' Wise said.
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