February 16, 2018
Friars 50 Forward: Message from the President
“When I approach anything that separates and divides us, I look at you not as an enemy, not as an adversary, not as a stranger, but I look at you through the eyes of God and treat you as a brother or sister.”
Dr. Bernice A. King
Providence College MLK Convocation
January 19, 2018
Dear Members of the Providence College Community:
As Providence College takes up Bernice King’s challenge to actively promote our shared humanity, we are beginning a series of initiatives that I believe will bring us closer to the ideal of the “beloved community.”
Our Diversity and Inclusion Implementation Committee has scheduled a series of teach-ins for the coming weeks, to which all are invited. These sessions will provide for meaningful engagement and interaction among disparate groups, creating opportunities to share our varying opinions and perspectives. Theresa Moore, who teaches in our Master of Business Administration, Master of Urban Education, and School of Continuing Education programs, will facilitate the first two teach-ins. She is an award-winning documentary producer, and an expert on issues of diversity, culturally relevant teaching/curriculum, and equity in students’ educational experiences and opportunities. The teach-ins are scheduled as follows:
- Monday, February 26 from 3:30 – 5 p.m., ’64 Hall, Slavin Center
- Monday, April 9 from 3:30 – 5 p.m., Peterson Recreation Center
Supervisors are asked to allow staff members who are interested in attending these events to do so.
Since we have just begun the liturgical season of Lent—a period of self-reflection, self-awareness, and atonement — I feel it is the ideal time for our community to think deeply and act purposefully in ways that exemplify Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s philosophy that all people are created in the image of God. To that end, I am pleased to announce our participation in a worldwide initiative that was launched last month by the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change. You may recall that Bernice King referenced the Center’s “Love for Humanity: 50 Acts of Service or Kindness” Campaign when she spoke at our MLK Convocation. Her words resonated strongly with many and, as a result, we have adopted this initiative as a campuswide effort to put her words into action, calling our acts of service or kindness “Friars 50 Forward.” I encourage you to share your stories and reflections in social media using #friars50forward. Our communications staff will curate these entries and post them on a special web page in the coming days.
We also will use the first teach-in as an opportunity to brainstorm some shared community initiatives that will amplify the impact of our personal works of service and kindness. Some student groups already are beginning to develop their own initiatives, which will serve to catalyze the College-wide effort.
Bernice King told us last month that “unconditional love” is at the core of her father’s enduring philosophy. That notion is likewise central to our shared desire to become a “beloved community,” where every person feels welcome and included. While recent years have brought us our share of challenges, this season – and these new initiatives, and the momentum we have gained from Dr. King’s visit – bring an abundance of opportunities for us to advance toward our shared goals.
I hope you will consider joining me in these efforts to effect positive, lasting change at Providence College.
Sincerely,
Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. ‘80
College President
