Filmmaker visits North Central for King events
There is still so much work to do.
As North Central College in Naperville prepares for its annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the centerpiece event will explore an old evil that troubled King and still haunts our society.
Musician and filmmaker Justin Dillon will visit North Central on Thursday and Friday, Jan. 22 and 23, for two presentations on his film "Call + Response," which examines modern human trafficking of child soldiers, sex slaves, slave labor and other crimes.
Viviana Kabbabe-Thompson, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs that planned this week's events, said the film's message is urgent.
"It's horrible to think there are more slaves in the world today than there ever have been in history," Kabbabe-Thompson said. "We felt the film was completely aligned with the social justice issues Dr. King fought for."
On Thursday, Dillon will show clips of the film - which features interviews with advocate celebrities, scholars such as Cornel West and public officials such as former Secretary of State Madeline Albright - during a question-and-answer session.
The next day, students and community members can see "Call + Response" in its entirety, and Dillon will perform music for the audience.
"We are lucky enough to have Dillon on our campus for two days, between engagements at locations like the White House, and we think his message is very appropriate," Kabbabe-Thompson said. "I only had to see the trailer once and I was sold."
To see the film preview, visit callandresponse.com.
King Day activities at the college also will include the annual invitation-only prayer breakfast, which includes roughly 200 community members and students. The breakfast will feature a speech by North Central College 2002 alumna Tashona Marshall, principal of Johnson School of the Arts in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
To preview the holiday, North Central College political science professor Stephen Caliendo joined author and Chicago Tribune columnist Dawn Turner Trice on Wednesday for "Race and Politics in the Blogosphere," a discussion of interracial relations and how they played out during the 2008 presidential election. North Central College also held a celebration of King and his legacy last week.
Additional activities this week include a student contest to create posters and essays relating to King's message, as well as an open mic and poetry slam Saturday, Jan. 24.
Officials said the college will continue its long tradition of celebrating King's teachings throughout the year, aiming to bridge different cultures with events such as freedom rides and its Anti-Hate Week.
"You don't know where you are going unless you know your past," said Kababbe-Thompson. "You must know your history to see your faults, so you know how to strengthen a group and a nation."
<p class="News"><b>If you go</b></p> <p class="News"><b>What:</b> "Call + Response," presented by musician and filmmaker Justin Dillon</p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, for film clips and discussion; 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, for showing of entire film </p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> North Central College's Meiley Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville</p> <p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> Free</p> <p class="News"><b>Info:</b> (630) 637-5156</p> <div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=265271">Volunteers to spread King's spirit in Lake County</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=264626">DuPage County's longest-running King celebration continues </a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=264619">Filmmaker visits North Central for King events</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=264616">Lisle minister speaks at MLK breakfast</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=265285">Elgin MLK breakfast honors his dream</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>