Saint Louis University Honors Civil Rights
Leaders at Annual Martin Luther King Jr . Tribute
celebrated the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr . during its fifth annual memorial tribute on Tuesday , Jan . 12 . It was the largest MLK tribute in University history , with 501 guests in attendance .
The event was sponsored by SLU ' s Office of Diversity and Community Engagement , in partnership with the Urban League of Metropolitan St . Louis , Inc . Jonathan C . Smith , Ph . D ., special assistant to the president for Diversity and Community Engagement , introduced the event ' s master of ceremonies Michael P . McMillan , president and CEO of the Urban League .
Christopher Collins , S . J ., assistant to the president for Mission and Identity , then gave the invocation , and University President Fred P . Pestello , Ph . D ., welcomed the crowd .
" It is fundamental to our Jesuit mission and values that we be co-workers with God on the issues of poverty , education , economic empowerment and racial equality ," Pestello said . " Our Jesuit values have guided our faculty , students and staff , of whom I am so proud , to pursue hundreds of programs in the neighborhood ' s most disadvantaged communities . ... We will continue to provide that course , with hope and trust in God and our own humanity , just as Dr . King would ' ve expected ."
Civil rights leader Diane Nash , who participated in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement alongside Dr . King , gave the keynote address . She spoke about struggling for a term for the movement ' s philosophy that was more encompassing than " nonviolence ," as their approach was about more than merely the absence of violence . She eventually coined the term " agapic energy :" using energy produced by " agape " or love , instead of
energy produced by violence ." I have not said that using agapic energy would be easy ," Nash said . " It was not . It is not . In the 1960s , we did not know if agapic energy would work . Now we know it does ."
Nash discussed how the movement was larger than any one person , and how they kept going despite fear because they knew the hardships they faced would create a better world for generations to come . She urged everyone in attendance to continue that legacy and to " keep the dream alive ." " We need to realize that there is no one to solve problems but you and me ," she said . " It was not Martin Luther King ' s movement ; it was a people ' s movement ." Nash received the 2016 Martin Luther King Jr . Memorial Civil Rights Leader Award .
As a surprise gesture of thanks , Smith presented Rita McMillan with a 2016 Dr . Martin Luther King Jr . Special Award of acknowledgment of and gratitude for her creation and ongoing support of the program .
The event concluded with final remarks from Smith and a benediction given by Collins .