Four-day King celebration opens at Benedictine University

Lisle's Benedictine University is sponsoring a four-day weekend of events to honor the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

It will open with a "Networking Night: People To People" from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday that provides an evening of networking, pizza and refreshments with students, alumni, faculty and staff.

On Saturday, members of the university community and the staff of the campus ministry will serve meals and beautify Hope House as part of a Day of Service.

A Red Cross Shelter training course also will be offered from 1 to 5 p.m. in the university's Krasa Presentation Room to prepare volunteers to assist in the resourcing, opening, operating and closing of a Red Cross Shelter in the event one is needed. Benedictine is DuPage County's primary shelter for the Red Cross, providing a safe and warm place to stay when disasters occur in the area.

On Sunday, history Professor Vincent R. Gaddis will speak on "A Revolution In Values" from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in St. Benedict Chapel in Kindlon Hall.

Gaddis, is a nondenominational pastor who attends River Valley Community Church in Aurora, will preach on the values we need today. The BSU Choir will perform with other guest singers and musicians.

The weekend will conclude with the "Day of Education" on Monday with "Everyone Has A Story to Tell" from 1 to 3 p.m. Eight Benedictine students will tell their personal stories of encounters with racism and the impact on their lives and how they view the world.

Then audience members will get a chance to tell their personal stories and receive information on the upcoming roundtable discussion groups on racism. It will be held in Kindlon Hall on the fifth floor.

To register, visit www.ben.edu.