Pre-Conference Contextual Engagement:
Martin Luther King, Jr., Center for Nonviolent Social Change
Thursday, November 1, 1:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m.
Sponsored by Religious Education in Public Life and Global Community Forum
and Peace and Justice Task Force
Cost: metro fare and dinner. There is no admissions fee for King Center exhibits.
To participate in the Pre-Conference Trip, please sign up by email.
Come early to enjoy a field trip with your colleagues to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center) on Thursday, November 1, 1:00-5:00 PM, followed by dinner in downtown Atlanta.
Those attending will meet at 1:00 P.M. in the lobby of the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel and travel the short distance to the King Center by metro (subway).
The visit to the King Center will begin with a walk down the Civil Rights Walk of Fame, pausing at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. We will then tour the outdoor campus on the Martin Luther King National Historic Site Visitor Center, which contains the crypt of Dr. Mrs. King.
A tour of Grand Foyer (first floor) of Freedom Hall will follow. We will spend time viewing the poster exhibit bearing Dr. King’s images and words and the King Center’s collection of art from around the world – with a special collection of African and Georgina art.
The group will then take a short walk up the street to visit the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church (Heritage Sanctuary), and then return to the King Center to spend time on the second floor of Freedom Hall, visiting the exhibits honoring Dr. and Mrs. King, Mahatma Gandhi, and Rosa Parks.
There will also be time in the afternoon for those who are interested to walk a few blocks and take the tour of the Birth Home of Dr. King.
The group will conclude its tour with a visit to the World Peace Rose Garden across the street from the King Center. The garden contains 185 rose bushes in a variety of colors and fragrances organized to present the theme Peace through Non-Violence. Those attending will be provided with a brief description of the displays so that they can guide themselves through the garden. These displays include multi-colored roses in a starburst design to represent the contributions of Dr. King as an advocate for social justice, and a display containing bands of white roses to symbolize the similarities between the philosophies of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi.
The group will end the tour with a visit to the King Center’s Bookstore and Resource Center, and then consider options for dinner at a local restaurant.
To summarize, the visit to the King Center will include
- Civil Rights Walk of Fame
- Visitor Center Outdoor Campus, with crypt of Dr. and Mrs. King
- Freedom Hall, with exhibits honoring Dr. and Mrs. King, Mahatma Gandhi, and Rosa Parks
- Ebenezer Baptist Church
- World Peace Rose Garden
- Birth Home of Dr. King (optional)
The group will end the tour with a visit to the King Center’s Bookstore and Resource Center, and then consider options for dinner at a local restaurant.
Questions? Contact Bud Horell or Susanne Johnson.