2021 MLK Day Events
MLK Day is not only a recognition of Martin Luther King’s martyrdom in the struggle for racial equity but it is a reminder of how far we still have to go to achieve equality. This year’s program included several different groups, each discussing issues of race and social justice from different perspectives. The quality of these sessions and their potential for enriching future Town discussions and understanding of these issues has led the Committee to extend the length of the program.
If you would like to see parts of the program more than once or share some elements with family and friends, you can directly access each segment here: https://brooklineinteractive.org/mlk2021/
"Pursuing Social Justice"
Our 2021 program featured a Moderated Conversation on “Philosophical Mentoring and the Impact of Words on a Generation”. The conversation is hosted by Nick Bates, the Assistant Director for Thurman Center Networks in the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground. His work focuses on educating the community about Howard Thurman and overseeing strategic partnerships that build on Thurman’s philosophy of Common Ground. The panelists for this conversation are Rev. Andrew E. Kimble and Jessica Hamilton.
Rev. Andrew E. Kimble is from Los Angeles, CA, and currently resides in Roxbury, MA. He graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy from Morehouse College in 2014. For the next two years, he worked for a top national law firm as a conflicts analyst. In 2019, he graduated with a Master of Divinity from the Boston University School of Theology. Alongside his ministerial responsibilities at the historic Charles Street AME Church, Andrew is the assistant director of alumni and donor relations at the Boston University School of Theology. In his free time, Andrew enjoys listening to jazz, talking with friends and strangers, running outdoors, and visiting the used book section in local bookstores.
Jessica Hamilton is a third-year Master of Divinity Student on the Global and Community Engagement track at Boston University School of Theology. Her studies are focused on the intersection of public policy, ethics, and spirituality and she is interested in understanding what bearing this intersection has on emerging conversations of social equity. In addition to her studies, Jessica serves as a Graduate Assistant at BU's Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground and was a 2019 recipient of the Rappaport Institute’s Public Policy Fellowship. Prior to seminary, Jessica spent ten years working in health care policy. She is a graduate of Northeastern University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in political science.
The program also featured Brookline High School students and local college students discussing Social Justice and how the events of this past year have impacted them. This group conversation is hosted by Harvey Bravman, Filmmaker and creator of BrooklineHub.com and the Brookline Youth Awards.