Each January, Penn and surrounding communities come together to commemorate the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Included below are a few events featured around campus throughout the 13-day celebration. For the complete listing, visit www.vpul.upenn.edu/ohe/mlk/calendar.php.

Monday, Jan. 18

MADAM PRESIDENT: Kick off the Day of Service with the annual Day of Service Breakfast where Penn President Amy Gutmann will deliver remarks followed by special guest speaker, professor, lawyer and civil rights activist Walter Palmer. 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. at Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce St., Hall of Flags. Info: Contact the African American Resource Center at 215-898-0104 or www.aarc.upenn.edu.

KING FOR A DAY: In “Children’s Banner Painting,” kids of all ages will paint commemorative Martin Luther King, Jr. banners and posters reflecting King’s legacy while listening to stories about his life. 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Houston Hall, Auditorium. Info: Contact Pamela Robinson at 215-898-0104 or email pamr@pobox.upenn.edu.

SEAT OF JUSTICE: In “Decoration of the Social Justice Chair,” an unfinished bench will be decorated with pictures of and quotes by Rev. King. When complete, “The Seat of Justice” will be placed in a local school throughout the year allowing students to reflect on King’s life and contributions. 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Houston Hall, Auditorium. Info: Contact Isabel Mapp at 215-898-2020 or email sammapp@pobox.upenn.edu.

POOR PEOPLE’S CAMPAIGN: At “Helping Hands at Houston Hall,” volunteers will create personal gifts to be donated to West Philadelphia-area shelters, nursing homes, hospitals and other charities. 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Houston Hall, Reading Room and Bodek Lounge. Info: Contact Pamela Robinson at 215-898-0104 or email pamr@pobox.upenn.edu.

UP WITH HOPE: In “Mentoring Project with Upward Bound,” the Penn chapter of the National Association of Black Social Workers student group and the Black Graduate and Professional Student Association will spend the day mentoring students from the University’s Upward Bound Program. 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Houston Hall. Info: Contact Isabel Mapp at 215-898-2020 or email sammapp@pobox.upenn.edu.

THE PEOPLE’S FOOD DRIVE: Rodin College House is celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a non-perishable food drive for West Philadelphia’s People’s Emergency Center. Bins will be placed around campus ahead of time to collect the food. 2 to 5 p.m. at Rodin College House, 3901 Locust Walk. Info: Contact Kelli Bowers at 814-490-2236 or email bowersk@sp2.upenn.edu.

Tuesday, Jan. 19

MR. MARCH: The event “Bayard Rustin: The Most Important Man You Never Heard Of and Why He Matters Now” features a screening of the award-winning documentary about Rustin’s life, “Brother Outsider.” The film features archival footage of Rustin’s critical involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. 4 to 7 p.m. at Claire Fagin Hall, 418 Curie Blvd. Info: Contact Julie Tennille at 267-968-3174 or email julie.tennille@mail.med.upenn.edu.

Wednesday, Jan. 20

NUMBERS LIE: For the discussion “How Racial Statistics Lie and Restructuring for the Future of Social Science,” Tukufu Zuberi, chair of Penn Sociology, argues that when statistics are interpreted in a racist manner, no matter how inadvertent the racism may be, the public is misled. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at location TBD. Info: Contact the 2010 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Symposium at 215-898-0105 or email robertec@upenn.edu.

Thursday, Jan. 21

LIGHT AND TRUTH: Attend the MLK Interfaith Commemoration and Community Involvement Awards with guest speaker Elizabeth Alexander, a poet, essayist, playwright and chair of Yale’s Department of African American Studies. 6 p.m. at Houston Hall, Bodek Lounge. Info: Contact Mary O’Rourke LeCates at 215-898-8456 or email mora@pobox.upenn.edu.

AMERICAN MADE: The Around the World & Black Film Series presents “Made in America.” Directed by Stacy Peralta and narrated by Forest Whitaker, the film takes the viewer inside the world of the notorious Crips and Bloods gangs. 7 p.m. at Harrison College House, 3910 Irving St. Info: Contact Ashley A. Mapp at 215-668-6745 or email mappa@exchange.upenn.edu.

Originally published Jan. 7, 2010