Central College will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a special program Jan. 18. Dianne Dillon-Ridgley will speak at 11 a.m. in Douwstra Auditorium. Her talk, “Sustainability, Justice and Hunger: Sowing a Brighter Future,” will address the moral obligation for economic and social justice. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will also make remarks and attend service activities. The event is free and open to the public.
Dianne Dillon-Ridgley will speak Jan. 26 about the moral obligation for economic and social justice.
Dillon-Ridgley was recently director for Interface, Inc., a global manufacturer of modular carpet and leader in sustainable design. She was appointed by the White House to three U.S. delegations for international sustainability summits and was the first U.S. member appointed to the Global Water Partnership.
After the event, members of the community are invited to help pack meals for Iowans with Outreach Program. One person can package 200 meals in one hour, according to the organization. Meals packed at Central will be given to Pella Food Shelf, I Have a Dream Foundation and Central Iowa Shelter Veteran Services. Guests are also invited to write letters to veterans and families. Anyone interested can sign up by emailing ivolunteer@central.edu. Students, staff and guests can pack any time 12-2:30 p.m. in Maytag Student Center.
An open forum, “Corporate Social Responsibility in a Global Context,” follows at 3 p.m. in Maytag Fireside Lounge. Dillon-Ridgley will talk with guests about her work toward corporate social responsibility.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day events are sponsored by Central College student development, sustainability education, community-based learning and study abroad.
