July 5, 2024 – The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent
Social Change announces the 3rd BE LOVE DAY, Friday, July 12th,
from 10 AM-5 PM ET. BE LOVE DAY 2024 will include hybrid,
interactive, family-oriented events that engage, educate, equip,
and empower participants.
This year’s BE LOVE DAY commences with an
Interfaith Prayer for Global Peace. This is a hybrid event
that will unite a myriad of faiths and denominations in praying for
peace in our World House. The in-person component will be held at
The King Center in the Coretta Scott King Peace and Meditation
Garden. This event begins at 9 AM ET and will stream on The King
Center’s YouTube, Facebook, X, and website, thekingcenter.org.
“There are many misconceptions about love, among
them being that love is passive and that it acquiesces to
injustice,” says Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center. “BE
LOVE DAY,” Dr. King continues, “is a call up and in, to a deeper
understanding of love, including the tangibility of love and how it
can be engaged to shift the culture, the future, and humanity in a
more just, humane, peaceful direction.”
As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “Voting is the foundation
stone for political action.” On BE LOVE DAY, from 10 AM-4 PM ET,
The King Center is hosting a Voter Registration and
Education event on the Center’s campus. Those in attendance can
visit stations to learn how to confirm, or change, their
registration and get a voter registration card. Additional
information is available at thekingcenter.org/belove.
There will be a Children’s Puppetry Book
Reading in the Yolanda D. King Theatre for the Performing Arts
at 10 AM. Author, Sedara Burson, will read her children’s book,
‘Zealous Zora,’ along with puppet, Meeka the
Bunny, and puppetry artist, Jimmica Collins, from the
Center for Puppetry Arts. This is a hybrid event and will
stream on The King Center’s YouTube, Facebook, X, and website,
thekingcenter.org.
Following the Puppetry Book Reading will be a
relevant, informative episode of the ReThink Podcast titled
‘The Injustice of War.’ This conversation will focus on the
root causes of militarism; the devastating outcomes of militarism;
how militarism is connected to poverty and racism; and how love is
a co-worker with power in overcoming the injustice of war in our
World House. The conversation will be hosted by Cameron Friend,
Content Producer for The King Center; and Dr. Vonnetta L. West,
Nonviolence365® Instructor and Senior Trainer; and will include
special guests, Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center; and
Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, Assistant Director of Yale's Center
for Public Theology and Public Policy. This virtual event begins at
11 AM ET and will stream on The King Center’s YouTube, Facebook, X,
and website, thekingcenter.org.
At 12 PM ET on BE LOVE DAY, The King Center
presents a free, one-hour virtual session, ‘Love in Action: Six
Practical Ways to Apply Love for Personal, Cultural, and Societal
Transformation.’ This session expounds on teachings from the
inaugural Be Love Series and explores how the teachings of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. can be utilized in applying love to
thinking, faith, language, family life, education, activism,
legislation, and other areas. There is limited space. Registration
is available at thekingcenter.org/belove.
The King Center will host a special BE LOVE DAY
red carpet, world premiere and screening of the short film, ‘The
Principle,’ which focuses on cyber bullying. Following the film
screening, there will be a Beloved Community Talks, ‘The
Boldness of Love in Challenging 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 are from 1PM-3 PM and will be held in the Yolanda D. King
Theatre for the Performing Arts. They will also stream on The King
Center’s YouTube, Facebook, X, and website, thekingcenter.org.
The day will conclude with a live, musical
performance by Van Van, followed by a finale concert
with Atlanta’s own talented songstress, 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 for engaging people
in creating the Beloved Community. By working with music labels,
up-and-coming and existing artists, The King Center curates BE LOVE
DAY finale concerts, playlists, and music for the public to enjoy.
The concert is from 4 PM-5 PM ET and will be limited seating. It
will be held in the Yolanda D. King Theatre for the Performing Arts
and will also stream on The King Center’s YouTube, Facebook, X, and
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!
Thank you 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’s 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
established in 1968 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King. The King Center is
the official living memorial and programmatic nonprofit
organization committed to educating the world on the life, legacy,
and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The King Center serves
to inspire new generations to carry forward his unfinished work,
strengthen causes and empower change-makers who are continuing his
efforts today. The King Center’s premiere educational initiative,
Nonviolence365®, is based on Dr. King’s nonviolent philosophy and
methodology. His teachings engage participants from various sectors
of society, including emerging and next-generation leaders, in
modules and exercises that enhance communication, leadership,
interpersonal, and conflict reconciliation skills, as well as
empower individuals to address injustice.
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- BE LOVE Day 2024 Final Release
- BE LOVE Day Schedule of Events
Momina Bryant
The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change
770-722-3071
press@thekingcenter.org