APPLETON, WIS. — Social commentator, actress and comedienne Nancy Giles will be the keynote speaker at the 17th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Monday, Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Lawrence University Memorial Chapel. The theme for this year’s event is “Dr. King’s Legacy: What is our Responsibility?”
The celebration, co-sponsored by Lawrence and the organization Toward Community: Unity in Diversity, is free and open to the public. WFRV-TV CBS 5 is a media partner for the event.
“I’m proud of the way the Lawrence University Diversity Center has worked tirelessly toward developing and sustaining relationships with our fellow Fox Valley community members and organizations,” said Erik Farley, assistant dean of students for multicultural affairs. “It is an honor to be a part of a community event that not only highlights the importance and benefits of multicultural thinking and actions, but makes a conscious effort to involve representatives from various constituencies in the planning process. The annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration is indeed the product of those kind of concentrated efforts.”
Giles, a native of Queens, N.Y., and a graduate of Oberlin College, is best known for her perceptive, provocative and funny social observations on race, feminism and sexism for the award-winning program “CBS Sunday Morning.”
She began her performance career with Chicago’s famed Second City improv troupe and has since worked regularly in television, film, radio and the theatre. She appeared in nearly a dozen television series, including recurring roles on the Emmy-winning “China Beach” and “Delta,” as well as guest roles on “Law and Order,” “Spin City” and HBO’s “Dream On.”
Giles also has appeared in 10 movies, among them Clint Eastwood’s “True Crimes,” Woody Allen’s “New York Stories” and Mike Nichols’ “Working Girl.” She worked on New York City radio’s “The Jay Thomas Morning Show” as the host’s sidekick and earned two Gracie Awards for “best talk show/radio” for her work as co-host of Philadelphia’s “Giles and Moriarity” program.
In addition to Giles’ address, the program will include a performance by the Appleton North High School choir and a audience participation rendition of the African-American national anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” led by Lawrence junior Sirgourney Tanner.
Highlighting the event will be the presentation by Toward Community of the annual Jane LaChapelle McCarty Unity in Diversity Award to an area individual who has made great strides in bringing different people in the community together.
Winning essays addressing the question “Dr. King’s Legacy: What is our Responsibility” written by area students will be read as part of the celebration.
“The King Celebration affords us all an opportunity to deepen our knowledge of and appreciation for an extraordinary man and his work,” said Jeff Kuepper, Toward Community: Unity in Diversity representative. “King’s emphasis on social justice and non-violence continue to speak as a challenge to us today.”
A sign language interpreter will be present for the program and a reception for all in attendance will follow.
