Danny Glover to Deliver Keynote for Rhode Island School of Design’s 2015 Martin Luther King, Jr. Series

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is pleased to announce that Danny Glover will deliver the keynote address as the culmination of the college’s 2015 Martin Luther King, Jr. Series, which celebrates the vast contributions Dr. King made to creating a more just and democratic society. Held annually in January, the MLK Series includes programs, events, and workshops designed to provide RISD and the local community with impactful moments of service, reflection, self-development, inspiration and celebration.

Mr. Glover will speak on “Creativity and Democracy: Social Change Through the Arts” on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 7:00PM in the RISD Auditorium (17 Canal Walk, Providence, RI). The event is free and open to the public, with ticket information available in January 2015 at: www.risd.edu/mlk.

After hosting previous keynote speakers Marian Wright Edelman, Harry Belafonte and Angela Davis, RISD selected Mr. Glover because he embodies Kingian values and represents the importance of creative endeavor in advancing democracy and equity. With a lifetime of work grounded in community advancement and socially responsible art making, Mr. Glover’s legacy of service and commitment to justice has made an indelible mark. His philanthropic and humanitarian work has been a constant in his career – from his early life as a student activist and community developer, to his more recent activities centered around advocacy for economic justice and a call for greater access to both health care and educational programs across the United States and Africa.

“Danny Glover's life and work demonstrates how art can be a platform for conveying complex ideas, confronting injustice, and advancing culture,” said RISD Interim President Rosanne Somerson. “This resonates for us at RISD, and honors our core mission. We are delighted to welcome Mr. Glover to Providence."

“Through a career that has tirelessly marched toward creating a culture of social responsibility, equality and justice, Danny Glover exemplifies what it means to use hard work, success and artistic expression as platforms for instilling greater social awareness and action in individuals and communities,” notes Tony Johnson, director of RISD’s Office of Intercultural Student Engagement, on behalf of the 2015 RISD MLK Committee. “Rhode Island School of Design looks forward to hosting Mr. Glover and recognizes the unique opportunity this moment presents to learn from his extraordinary life and vast contributions to Dr. King’s legacy.”

The keynote will be the capstone of the month-long 2015 Martin Luther King, Jr. Series at RISD, which begins on January 17 with an opening concert and includes a day of service at MLK Elementary School in Providence, a Danny Glover film series and campus discussions with anti-racism educator and activist Tim Wise. All details about programming can be found at: www.risd.edu/mlk.