Many Voices, Bold Visions: Engaging Our Communities
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Convocation

The 20th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation will be held Jan. 21, 2007, at 1 p.m. in Hoversten Chapel. The convocation, entitled "Visions of a Just Society: Dr. King's Legacy," will feature guest Ekwueme Michael Thelwell, professor of African-American Studies at the University of Massachusetts.

The mission of the Pan-Afrikan Center is to nurture and support all students of Afrikan descent and enhance their educational and personal development through programs and services that promote cultural, historical, and community awareness of Pan-Afrikan people. Our focus is to assist students in making academic, personal-social and environmental adjustment to Augsburg College and Community life. Pan-Afrikan Center also assists the admissions office in recruitment of Pan-Afrikan students as well as supervising Pan-Afrikan student programming and working with students on leadership development.

The History of Augsburg's Pan-Afrikan Center

The Pan-Afrikan Student Union was first known as the Black Student Union. The Black Student Union was initiated in the Spring of 1968-steming from the One Day in May Visit, a day long event in response to Martin Luther King Jr.’s death and the riots taking place across U.S. (specifically in Minneapolis). On this day, Augsburg came into direct contact with racism. Classes were cancelled. Faculty, community leaders, staff and students came together to listen, lead, and discuss issues affecting the community. Community leaders lead the way in bringing key issues to Augsburg’s attention. Issues that would force Augsburg to think about racism, justice, the community and what needed to change.

Pan-Afrikanism at Augsburg College

Pan-Afrikan-is an intellectual and political movement that grew out of the Afrikan Diaspora. Created through the slave trade, Pan-Afrikanism addresses the natural and spiritual conditions resulting from racism, colonialism, and oppression. Pan-Afrikanism unites and reunites the cultures of the continent and utilizes the vast diversity of human resources to edify humanity. The use of the “k” in the spelling of Afrika is intentional and represents self-definition.

DO U KNOW WHO THESE AFRIKAN PEOPLE ARE?

Contact information

2211 Riverside Ave S
Campus Box #38
Minneapolis, MN 55454
612-330-1022 phone
612-330-1695 fax
bolden@augsburg.edu

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