Four Oglethorpe University undergraduate students are the first in metro Atlanta to participate in the King Center scholars program, a selective internship and academic initiative grounded in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s principles of community service and conflict resolution.
Endorsed by Dr. Gabriel Barreneche, Oglethorpe provost and vice president of academic affairs, participants will complete the Nonviolence365 curriculum. Undergraduates will engage in expert-led discussions and undertake a research project.
Barreneche discovered the curriculum at his former institution, Berry College in Rome, Ga., when the senior administration members took the course to improve their leadership skills.
Working with Dr. Kendra A. King Momon, associate provost of Academic Affairs and urban politics professor, Barreneche said they plan to invite King Center staff to be guest instructors in Oglethorpe micro-courses or designated curricular offerings, such as the Urban Leadership Program. It’s a win-win, Barreneche said.
“The King Center and Oglethorpe share a long-standing connection rooted in education and service, and we are deeply grateful for the leadership of Momon, whose vision and steadfast commitment have helped make this meaningful collaboration a reality,” Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, said.
Fellows are gaining access to the King Center archives and related materials – enabling them to develop academic programming, community service initiatives, and collaborative public projects.
Economics major Jourdan Russell said the internship program invites students to explore how nonviolence as a theory and practice can be applied to contemporary issues to effect change.
“I have been challenged to think deeply, and granted space to consider how I can solve issues in my community,” said Russell.
Politics major LaShawn Brown said the experience so far has been “eye-opening and grounding.” Brown has learned how King’s philosophy of nonviolence is more than just history.
“His work challenges me to think differently about love and leadership. I’ve especially been pushed to reflect on the tension between legality and morality, and how nonviolence can guide the way we bridge that gap,” Brown said.
“This partnership with the King Center reflects our deep commitment to advancing Dr. King’s vision of justice, equity, and peace,” Barreneche said. “Together, we will create opportunities for learning and dialogue that inspire meaningful change in our communities.”