BUCKHANNON, West Virginia –  West Virginia Wesleyan College’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Office of Religious and Spiritual Life are hosting three events in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

On Sunday, Jan. 15, the MLK Worship Service will begin at 11 a.m. in Wesley Chapel. Dr. Dedriell Taylor, vice president for institutional advancement and development, and Rev. Jonathan Acord, director of religious and spiritual life, will serve as speakers for this service. The community is invited.

On Monday, Jan. 16., celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. beginning at 6 p.m. with a dinner by Aladdin in the side dining hall of the French See Dining Hall. Dr. Julius Bailey, will speak on Achieving Dr. King’s Beloved Community. Aladdin is serving a special buffet dinner to include slow roasted roast beef and roasted turkey.

Bailey will also speak from noon to 1 p.m. in the DEI Office on the second floor of the Benedum Campus Center. Part of the DEI Culture-To-Go series, Bailey will hold an informal discussion with students on the Philosophy of Love and Hip Hop Culture.

Bailey, born in Chicago, Illinois, studied at Howard University where he also received a Fulbright fellowship to study abroad. He later earned his Ph.D. in philosophy and education from the University of Illinois.  Bailey teaches for the Department of Philosophy at Wittenberg University where he is also director of Pre-Law and Justice, Law and Public Policy.

Bailey has authored five books including the award-winning “Racial Realities and Post-Racial Dreams: The Age of Obama and Beyond” and most recently “Racism, Hypocrisy and Bad Faith” A Moral Challenge to the America I love.”

Bailey also hosts an online radio show, “Straight No Chaser with Dr. Julius Bailey” through which he provides insight and guidance on social change.”

Prior to his teaching career at Wittenberg University, Bailey taught at Central State University (Wilberforce, Ohio), Fresno State University (California), Lewis University (Illinois) and Millikin University (Illinois). He is the education director for Youth with a Positive Direction, one of Illinois’ after-school gems that provides positive outlets for at-risk youth. Finally, he also founded the award-winning Project Eight, another intervention-based youth service program. Bailey is a highly sought-after diversity trainer, consulting in both the public and private sectors to help address long-standing issues of systemic racism, structural inequality and incarceration politics.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan one of its 2023 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan seventh in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students more than 40 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, and nursing; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 70 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.