2024 Commemoration Schedule of Events
“Letter from Birmingham Jail” Round Table Discussions
Wednesday, January 24th
11:30am-1:30pm
Salem Campus | Goudy | Wilson-Hines Dining Room
Drop in to participate in a round table discussion over lunch on Dr. MLK Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. This event is open to the students, staff, & faculty of ºìÐÓ¶ÌÊÓƵ University.
This iconic piece is widely available online. Please note that this letter includes dehumanizing language as Dr. King was capturing his lived experience and the struggles of his community during the fight for civil rights.
Meal vouchers will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis to staff, faculty, and students without a meal plan so that folks can have these discussions over a meal. There is a limited number of meal vouchers so please reserve one by filling out this form. You will be notified of pickup instructions and if we’ve run out.
Keynote Speaker: Sterling Cunio & Empowerment Writing Workshop
Wednesday, January 24th
4:30pm-6:30pm
Salem Campus | Putnam University Center | Cat Cavern
Salem writer, poet, & restorative justice facilitator, Sterling Cunio will share their story, speak on “Letter from Birmingham Jail” & read out some of his written work.
Cunio will then lead an empowerment writing workshop where you will learn a new literary device and performance technique for spoken word. Cunio's biography will be updated soon on this webpage for you to learn more about him.
Seating is limited. The speaker is free and open to the WU community & public.
At this time, the Putnam University Center does not have an operable elevator and we unfortunately cannot move this event to another location. We truly apologize for the ADA limitations and inaccessibility. We may be able to stream the keynote. Please check back here throughout the day for any updates.
About Sterling cunio
Sterling Cunio is an award winning author, playwright and poet. He is an Oregon Literary Arts Fellow, Pen America Arts for Social justice Fellow, and a World Yes Jam Jammer whose work has been published in The Marshall Project, L.A. Book review and performed by various artists including Grammy award winning musician Antino Sanchez. Sterling sits on the board of Directors of Oregon's Transformative Justice Community and acts as lead facilitator for Regroup, a support and empowerment network of Returning Citizens that played an instrumental role in abolishing the authorization of slavery from Oregon's constitution. Along with currently working for Church at The Park in Salem serving its houseless community, Sterling also works as a lead consultant on the Ubuntu Climate Initiative, a global climate resilience movement focusing on Reuniting people and planet through joy, art and sustainability.
For any questions or disability accommodations, please contact Juliane Corpus at jcorpus2@willamette.edu.