Dr. Bernice A. King to Kick Off Bunker Hill Community College’s 2022 Compelling Conversations Series
Nationally renowned community college speaker series centers local, national and global perspectives on cultural wealth and generational activism in the pursuit of equity and justice
Friday, October 28, 2022
Bunker Hill Community College’s (BHCC) Compelling Conversations, a multi-decade speakers series featuring leaders at the forefront of equity and justice across a spectrum of fields and perspectives, begins its 2022-23 season with a conversation led by CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Dr. Bernice A. King on the BHCC Charlestown campus, Thursday, November 3, 2022, at 1 p.m.
“Compelling Conversations is one of Bunker Hill Community College’s most cherished traditions,” said BHCC President Pam Y. Eddinger. “Not only because of the distinguished history and roster of speakers, but because the series gives voice to the concept of cultural wealth, which is a cornerstone of our college culture. It is a concept that is animated by the pursuit of equity by lifting up cultural and community assets that are overlooked and undervalued—one that seeks to turn upside down the common narrative of communities of color and of poverty being defined by deficits. This year’s Compelling Conversations are sure to deepen our thinking and our actions around equity and justice in our college community and beyond.”
King is the first on-campus Compelling Conversation since the pandemic began in 2020. Her talk—and all Compelling Conversations—are free and open to the public with registration on the BHCC website at bhcc.edu/cc.
“In this year’s Compelling Conversations, we are amplifying change makers,” said BHCC Associate Vice President and Chief Equity and Compliance Officer Nahomi Carlisle. “True progress and sustainable change takes strong leaders. These conversations are opportunities for future leaders to engage in this marathon for equity and justice—a race that no one wins unless everyone wins. Compelling Conversations looks to the past to see what has worked, looks to our present selves to see what we can do now to effect change and prepare the leaders of tomorrow to continue to pursue equitable outcomes. We want our community to consider ‘What will be my legacy?’ and then equip them to take the steps to fulfill those aspirations.”
Dr. Bernice A. King is a global thought leader, strategist, solutionist, orator, peace advocate, and CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center For Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center), which was founded by her mother as the official living memorial to the life, work, and legacy of her father. In this position, Bernice continues to advance her parents’ legacy of nonviolent social change through policy, advocacy, research, as well as education & training through the Kingian philosophy of nonviolence, which she re-branded Nonviolence365™️ (NV365).
Through her work at The King Center, she educates youth and adults around the world about the nonviolent principles and strategies modeled by her parents. Under her leadership, the Center has implemented numerous initiatives reaching over 500,000 people around the world, including the Beloved Community Leadership Academy, Students with King, NV365 Education & Training, and The Beloved Community Talks, a courageous conversations platform about the difficult racial and social justice issues impacting our world. Dr. King led the development of an NV365 certification program for trainers, which provides individuals with the opportunity to teach the NV365 curriculum on behalf of The King Center. She is an instructor for the program and a trainer.
Other speakers in the 2022-23 Compelling Conversations series include:
Cleve Jones, LGBTQ+ activist, trailblazer, and author, Ndaba Mandela, grandson of South African President Nelson Mandela and founder of Africa Rising, Sonia Manzano, actress who portrayed Maria on Sesame Street, author and producer, Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X, professor and author; and Emmy-Award Winning Co-Anchor of ABC’s Nightline, Juju Chang.
For more information about Compelling Conversations, including registration information, location, and dates, visit bhcc.edu/cc.
What: A Compelling Conversation with Dr. Bernice A. King
When: Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 1:00pm
Where: Bunker Hill Community College, Room A-300, 250 New Rutherford Avenue, Boston, MA 02129
Compelling Conversations are open to the media, however recording (audio/video) is prohibited without advanced permission from the College and Dr. King. Requests for interviews must be made through the College. To RSVP, please contact Brendan Hughes, Director of Public Relations, at brendan.hughes@bhcc.edu
Media Contact:
Brendan P. Hughes, Director of Public Affairs
Bunker Hill Community College, Boston, MA 02129
Phone: 617-937-9365; Email: brendan.hughes@bhcc.edu
About Bunker Hill Community College
With more than 50 years of academic excellence, Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) is Massachusetts' largest community college, annually welcoming a diverse community of around 16,000 students. With campuses in Charlestown and Chelsea, BHCC extends its reach across several locations in Greater Boston. The College offers associate degrees and certificates, early college and dual enrollment, community education, corporate training, and industry-specific training programs. BHCC is celebrated for its diversity, boasting a student body where 65% identify as people of color and more than half are women. The College also embraces a global perspective, with over 600 international students representing 90 countries and conversing in more than 65 languages. Our commitment to diversity is further reflected in BHCC's designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI).