Commemoration Honors Martin Luther King, Jr.

Guest speaker encourages students, faculty and staff to promote progress beyond comfort zones

Albert Lee, guest speaker at Sacred Heart University’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr., commemoration, told his audience that trying to appease people seeking change by giving them a holiday isn’t enough. Real progress requires action, he said.

“We cannot do nothing and expect tangible progress toward the greater good of the community,” said Lee, an associate professor of music and director of equity, belonging and student life at the Yale School of Music.

Sacred Heart’s Office for Inclusive Excellence & Multicultural Affairs presented this year’s tribute, “Celebrating the Life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” Jan. 18 in the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts. The theme was “The Power of Community,” and a program poster introduced the concept, stating, “It is not enough to consider ourselves simply ‘allies’ in the fight. Instead, we must put our heads down, listen more and do the work of improving the lives of a marginalized community to which we don't belong.”

Speaking to students and staff, Lee drew inspiration from the literary works of poet, novelist, playwright and social activist Langston Hughes, as well as from his own artistic and spiritual life journey. He challenged his audience to recall the nation’s history when marking Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.

SHU President John. J. Petillo began the event by encouraging students and staff to remember King as a man of faith, service and excellence. He urged those gathered to continue to make Sacred Heart a university that would make King proud.

The annual tribute also included remarks from Robert Johnson, executive director of multicultural affairs, and Maurice Nelson, chief diversity and inclusion officer. SHU’s gospel choir performed, adding inspirational music to the observance.

Benjamin Bello ’22, a graduate student in the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology who sang with the gospel choir, said he found meaning beyond the music. “What I enjoyed about the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day event was not only the music, but the message the event brought to the SHU community,” he said.

Maeve St. Onge ’22, graduate assistant in the Office for Inclusive Excellence & Multicultural Affairs and a graduate student in the School of Communication, Media & the Arts, said Lee’s speech motivated her to incorporate his message into her own life. “I was impressed by Dr. Lee’s incredible words. They really resonated with me, and I hope they resonated with the rest of the audience. I hope we can take his words and apply them to our own lives as we move forward,” she said.

Top: The gospel choir performs at the MLK commemoration. Inset: Albert Lee