Fisher Hosts Ninth Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Coexistence Dinner

This month, St. John Fisher College will host its ninth annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Coexistence Dinner, bringing together members of the community for an enriching dialogue about spirituality and faith.

The dinner begins at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 21, in Cleary Family Auditorium in Kearney Hall. Sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Programs, it is free and open to the public.

At the dinner, Dr. Gerard J. Rooney, president of the College; Yantee Slobert, director of multicultural affairs and diversity program; Fr. Kevin Mannara, director of campus ministry; and Dr. Rick DeJesus-Rueff, academic director of the first generation scholars program, will offer remarks.

Dr. David Anderson, a visiting scholar at Nazareth College, will deliver a reenactment of Frederick Douglass prior to the open dialogue. A renowned Douglass re-enactor, in 2018, Anderson was appointed to serve on the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission and he chairs the Rochester/Monroe County Freedom Trail Commission. Anderson is also a founding member of Blackstorytelling League, and of Akwaaba: the Heritage Associates, which shares African American lore across the United States and Ghana.

The event’s goal is to foster deeper insights into the religious beliefs of others through the use of contemplative discussions; a list of questions will help participants navigate around topics that can often be seen as difficult or uncomfortable.

For more information about the dinner, email diversity@sjfc.edu.