Promoting a diverse and cultural environment, UNCW prepares for and welcomes Danny Glover to the campus as the keynote speaker for the 25th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. Glover will present “An Evening with Langston and Martin,” a moving program comprised of dramatic readings from the works of Martin Luther King, Jr. and poet Langston Hughes. ” In efforts to advance the legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King’s commitment to equality, respect and justice, the university sought a mechanism for communicating his message in a manner that appeals to a broad audience,” co-chair of the event Kimberley Cheatham said. “The arts are an effective vehicle for social change, particularly among our student population, and also resonate within the vibrant, local film community,” Cheatham added. The event will be held Jan. 24, 2008 in Kenan Auditorium to honor the upcoming holiday. “Mr. Glover’s performance is powerful, yet peaceful and poignant. This experience will undoubtedly inspire audience members through the strength and message of the writings,” Cheatham said. Organized by the UNCW Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, the event is free to students, but while tickets went on sale Jan. 9, they sold out the next day. “It was astonishing to learn the speed in which patrons obtained tickets to the performance. Tickets for the two most recent annual programs did sell out well in advance of the program as well, although this does outpace those events,” Cheatham said. Past speakers have included civil rights activists Myrlie Evers-Williams and Julian Bond, and most recently the Chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. “The past two years have involved a lecture presentation from a nationally recognized individual that has contributed to the advancement of social justice issues,” Cheatham said. Civil rights activist, producer and actor, Glover is a powerful advocate for literacy and has won many awards for his work on social issues including the Lifetime Achievement Award from Amnesty International. Glover has focused on topics including poverty and economic underdevelopment in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean when he served as Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program. ” Mr. Glover has participated in a number of national and international efforts that positively impact diverse populations. From his active participation in the Black Student Union while an undergraduate student to the voice he has offered on behalf of literacy, poverty and the environment, Mr. Glover has influenced generations,” Cheatham said.