North Carolina Central University will celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Thursday, Jan. 17, with a convocation at 9:45 a.m. in the B.N. Duke Auditorium. Retired North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Patricia A. Timmons-Goodson will serve as the keynote speaker. This event is free and open to the public.

Timmons-Goodson was the first and only female African-American to serve on the state’s highest court. Appointed by former Gov. Mike Easley in early 2006, she then won election in November of that year. She previously served as a judge in the state court system for more than two decades — as a District Court judge in Fayetteville (she was the first black woman to serve as a judge in Cumberland County) and on the state Court of Appeals. In 2002, she served on the first three-judge panel of the N.C. Court of Appeals to be made up of all black women.

After the convocation, a march and rally will be held in the newly redesigned Unity Bowl on the NCCU campus.

In addition to the MLK Convocation, the NCCU community will participate in a series of “Truth and Service” volunteer events. The list includes:
 

• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training – Saturday, Jan. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Criminal Justice Building. This event will train citizens in the proper steps to take in an emergency situation. It will include an active shooter simulation.
• Urban Ministries Gathering – NCCU students will host Urban Ministries of Durham residents on the NCCU campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 19 in the A.E. Student Union. 
• Million Meals Project – Monday, Jan. 21, in the IM Building on the campus of Duke University. Students from NCCU and Duke will package 100,000 meals for distribution through Stop Hunger Now.
• Eagle Pride Blood Drive – Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 22-23 (9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.), and Thursday, Jan. 24 (9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.), in the Alfonso Elder Student Union.

For more information on any of the campus events contact the Academic Community Service Learning Program at 919-530-7078.