Atlanta, GA., July 5, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — July 5, 2024 – The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change announces the 3rd…rd BE LOVE DAY, Friday, July 12thfrom 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET. BE LOVE DAY 2024 will feature hybrid, interactive, family-focused events that engage, inform, equip and empower participants.
This year’s BE LOVE DAY begins with a Interreligious prayer for world peace. This is a hybrid event uniting a variety of faiths and denominations in prayer for peace at our World House. The in-person portion will take place at the King Center in the Coretta Scott King Peace and Meditation Garden. This event begins at 9 a.m. ET and will be streamed on YouTube, Facebook, X, and the King Center website, thekingcenter.org.
“There are many misconceptions about love, including that love is passive and accepts injustice,” says Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of the King Center. “BE LOVE DAY,” Dr. King continues, “is a call to a deeper understanding of love, including the tangible nature of love and how it can be used to move culture, the future, and humanity in a more just, humane, and peaceful direction.”
As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Voting is the cornerstone of political action.” On BE LOVE DAY, the King Center will host a Voter registration and education Event on the center’s campus. Participants can visit stations to learn how to confirm or change their registration and obtain a voter registration card. For more information, visit thekingcenter.org/belove.
There will be a Reading of a puppet play book for children at the Yolanda D. King Theatre for the Performing Arts at 10 a.m. Author Sedara Burson reads her children’s book ‘Eager Zora,‘ together with doll, Meeka the Bunnyand puppeteers, Jimmica Collinsfrom that Center for Puppetry Arts. This is a hybrid event and will be streamed on YouTube, Facebook, X and the King Center website thekingcenter.org.
Following the reading of the puppetry book, a relevant, informative episode of the ReThink Podcast titled “The injustice of war.” This conversation will explore the root causes of militarism, the devastating consequences of militarism, the connection between militarism and poverty and racism, and how love and power work together to overcome the injustice of war in our world home. The conversation will be moderated by Cameron Friend, Content Producer for The King Center, and Dr. Vonnetta L. West, Nonviolence365® Teacher and Senior Trainer. Special guests include Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center, and Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, Associate Director of the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy at Yale. This virtual event will begin at 11:00 a.m. ET and will be streamed on YouTube, Facebook, X, and The King Center’s website, thekingcenter.org.
At 12pm ET on BE LOVE DAY, the King Center will present a free, one-hour virtual session, “Love in Action: Six Practical Ways to Use Love for Personal, Cultural, and Societal Change.” This session will expand on the teachings of the first Be Love series and explore how the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. can be used to apply love to thought, faith, speech, family life, education, activism, legislation, and other areas. Space is limited. To register, visit thekingcenter.org/belove.
The King Center will host a special BE LOVE DAY red carpet, a world premiere and a screening of the short film “The Principle,” which deals with cyberbullying. Following the screening, there will be a Dear Community Conversations, “The courage of love in the fight against bullying” featuring Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of the King Center; Mickey Guyton, actress and country music star, featured in “The Principle”; John Viscount, filmmaker of “The Principle”; and moderator Malcolm-Jamal Warner, actor, poet and musician. The film screening and Beloved Community Talks will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Yolanda D. King Theater for the Performing Arts. They will also be streamed on YouTube, Facebook, X and the King Center website, thekingcenter.org.
The day ends with a Live music performance by Van Van, followed by a Closing concert featuring Atlanta’s talented singer Jade Novah. Jade Novah is this year’s BE LOVE Featured Artist (BLFA). The BLFA is a concert series created by the King Center specifically to engage people in creating the Beloved community. By collaborating with music labels, emerging and established artists, the King Center curates BE LOVE DAY finale concerts, playlists and music for the public to enjoy. The concert will be from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET and there will be limited seating. It will take place in the Yolanda D. King Theater for the Performing Arts and will also be streamed on YouTube, Facebook, X and the King Center’s website, thekingcenter.org.
In addition to these BE LOVE DAY experiences, there will be a BE LOVE DAY back-to-school backpack service project, a live DJ sponsored by Grand Hustle Inc., games, face painting, food trucks and more!
Many thanks to our generous sponsors and partners!
Sponsors: Atlanta Dream Basketball, Atlanta Hawks Basketball, Grand Hustle Inc., Orange Barrell Media and Universal Music Group Taskforce for Meaningful Change.
Partners: All Americas Vote, Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School, Atlanta Public Schools, Center for Puppetry Arts, Covenant House Georgia, Science ATL, Slater Elementary School, The Georgia’s People Agenda.
For more information about BE LOVE DAY, visit the King Center website at thekingcenter.org/BELOVE.
About the King Center
The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center) is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1968 by Ms. Coretta Scott King. The King Center is the official living memorial and nonprofit programming organization dedicated to educating the world about the life, legacy and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The King Center exists to inspire new generations to carry on his unfinished work, strengthen causes and empower changemakers who carry on his efforts today. The King Center’s flagship educational initiative, Nonviolence365®, is based on Dr. King’s nonviolent philosophy and methodology. His teachings engage participants from diverse sectors of society, including emerging and future leaders, in modules and exercises that enhance communication, leadership, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills and empower individuals to speak out against injustice.
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BE LOVE Day 2024 – Final Release
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Event schedule for BE LOVE Day
