Keystone College’s Concerts & Lectures Series will present “When the Dream Meets the System: Justice, Accountability, and the Legacy of Dr. King,” a lecture by Kenneth Chamberlain, Jr. on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. in Evans Hall in the Hibbard Campus Center on the La Plume campus. The lecture is free and open to the public and all are welcome to attend.
Mr. Chamberlain is a dynamic and highly skilled human service professional with a wealth of diverse experiences. He currently serves as the Re-entry Coordinator at the Westchester County (NY) Department of Social Services, where he plays a pivotal role in facilitating the seamless reintegration of recently incarcerated individuals into society.
His previous roles include Program Administrator for Westchester County’s Putting Westchester to Work Program and Work Experience Program Developer with the Urban League of Westchester County. In his capacity as a professional, Mr. Chamberlain forges meaningful connections with local organizations, institutions, and the client population he serves.
His life took a profound turn when he was compelled to respond to the tragic death of his father, Kenneth Chamberlain, Sr., at the hands of White Plains Police Officers on November 19, 2011. Since that fateful day, Mr. Chamberlain has emerged as a formidable force for positive change in Westchester County and throughout New York State.
He is a founding member of the Westchester Coalition for Police Reform (WCPR) and collaborates with community organizations, religious institutions, and individuals who share a collective vision of safe communities, improved community-police relations, and heightened police accountability and transparency. Mr. Chamberlain has received numerous accolades for his advocacy and collaborations, including the Champion of the Community award from the Westchester Martin Luther King Jr. Institute for nonviolence and a Proclamation from the New York State Senate.
Tuesday’s guest lecture will conclude the College’s MLK Day of Service, which includes students volunteering to assemble sleeping bags for the homeless in conjunction with the Hop Bottom, Pa.-based My Brother’s Keeper Quilt Group and its Sleeping Bag Project. Sleeping bags will be distributed free of charge to individuals and organizations throughout the region.
“Our MLK Day of Service is designed to bring the recognition of Dr. King and his profound words, contributions, and vision into actionable items in which our students can participate and reflect on in their daily lives,” said Lucas Taylor, Director of Student Life at Keystone.
