“The Rebirth of the Dream in a New Generation” transformed Martin Luther King Day, in the eyes of students, from another day off from school to a commemoration of the dreams and ideals of a cultural icon.

That theme shaped a four-day celebration and remembrance, from Jan. 13-16, of Dr. King’s struggles and visions of the world today. The events culminated on Thursday, Jan. 16, with a formal dinner, a compilation of all the main events of the week, including two keynote speakers: Penni Sweetenburg-Lee in the morning and Judge Rise Jones Pichon in the evening.

“I really have to question how much have we done in society, what needs to be done, and how little we’ve accomplished in my view,” said De Anza president Martha Kanter to commence the evening program, saying that King’s dream has not been completely fulfilled yet.

Quoting Stanford University professor and director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project, Clayborn Carson, Kanter added, “‘It is our responsibility to continue that fight for freedom.’ That’s why we do what we do here at De Anza College. We’re about opening doors to people of color, to underrepresented students, to the disadvantaged, to people who need a chance to have a future.”

Kanter said, “Eighty percent of all students of color who transfer and go into the workforce in California come through the doors of a California community college. We have 40,000 students doing so at De Anza every year.”

In light of King’s dream, Kanter and keynote speaker Pichon have crafted a long-term educational plan called “Vision 2010 for Silicon Valley” that declares a goal to increase the success rate of all ethnic, gender and disability groups, so they are incomparably high, with no more than five percent variance among the different groups.

The plan states, “Achieving this goal may be a towering feat. No matter how strong our commitment, we won’t make true progress unless the entire community participates.”

Kanter said, “That’s what I think Dr. King stood for – involving the entire community, touching the heart of every person to say ‘You can make a difference, you can change the lives of people we are with in this world. I think Dr. King would have been proud of our regional vision, because it involves his goal to create an inclusive society that connects people to opportunities to achieve economic prosperity for all.”

Kanter also mentioned the budget crisis affecting community colleges as an example of King’s unfulfilled dream and encouraged the audience to stand up against the cuts. “Yes, everyone is going to take a piece of the economic crisis that we’re facing, but let’s be fair, let’s be appropriate, and let’s understand how valuable the community colleges are to us.”

The premiere event was a speech by Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Rise Jones Pichon, “My Brother’s Keeper.” The title was a Biblical reference to Cain’s response when God asked him the whereabouts of his brother, Abel. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Cain asked.

“Dr. King was a mentor in the truest sense of the word. He believed it was his personal responsibility to end segregation. He believed it was his duty to lead, inspire and motivate until his end … and it was his desire that his work continue after his death,” said Pichon. She added that we all have an obligation to look out for each other.

To illustrate her point, Pichon narrated the story of King’s adolescence, focusing on a dramatic loss of motivation King experienced mid-high school. According to Pichon, the only reason King regained his incentives was because of a certain teacher’s care and acceptance.

“She could not prevent the decline because the student had some things to work out and this was his way. She understood, and she did not try to fix him. She listened, counseled, sympathized and stood by him, while he went on his tortured, slow and painful journey,” said Pichon. “Because of this teacher and her unconditional acceptance of the young man, he began to know himself and accept himself and slowly, his cloud started to lift. He was still struggling, but because someone cared and showed him that they cared, he had a chance at success.”

Pichon went on to define the role of a mentor as “a person who has the unique ability to see the other person as he or she is, to accept that person unconditionally, and to inspire that person to reach his or her potential. A mentor encourages another person to persevere [toward] what appears to be insurmountable challenges.”

Pichon clarified that mentoring does not require a long-term relationship, “It can simply be a kind act or gesture at just the right time, a sincere affirmation of a person, a word of encouragement, or just a little empathy and understanding.”

Theatre arts student Smret Yohannes said,”[She] made me realize that I could and needed to make a difference too,” said theatre arts student Smret Yohannes. “I live in Oakland, where there’s a lot of shooting and sometimes I give up on helping other people there. When [she] talked about how you can help your own community. I realized, I can make a difference … when you change, you see other people change too.”

In concluding her speech Pichon said, “To be able to look at another person and recognize that he or she is in need, and to be able to reach out, even in some small way, is especially important today, because we have been examining each other very closely, and we view each other with suspicion, distrust and fear. Our lives have become competitive to such an extent that we have a tendency to believe, without reason, that the next person is out to get what we have. Our differences are meant to enhance the beauty of life, and not to become grounds for speculation, prejudice and fear. Look to your right, look to your left and support each other, so all three of you can be a success.”

Pichon received a standing ovation from the audience.

“If you’re an African-American student, you can’t help but be proud. Even just sitting in the room and looking around, there were just so many accomplished African-Americans here,” said De Anza student trustee Deanna Stewart. “From a non-African-American student view, I was proud of my school. I was proud of my president. I was just proud to be associated with a group of people who care about ideals.”

“I hope [the students] learned about what the struggle was all about, and what it still is about,” said Planning Committee Co-Chair Texanna Davis. “Our goal was to make sure students didn’t say, ‘Well, I went, but I didn’t really learn anything.'”

In the morning program, Sweetenburg-Lee’s speech included a three-step “Recipe for Success” that transcended race.

Step 1: Develop a healthy self-identity. “There are crabs in the pot who will put you down just as you start to rise up. They will say, ‘your dreams are too ambitious’ … Stop waiting for people to affirm you or give you a chance. Make your own chance.”

Step 2: Don’t linger in low places. “A low place is where you’re stuck … a rut where we grumble and complain.”

Step 3: Set sights on a hill country, a “well-defined, elevated high place.”

“I think the ultimate message here is a message calling people to serve, to look at Dr. King’s life and his commitment to serving mankind, regardless of race, creed, color, or nationality,” said Sweetenburg-Lee. “And now we too have been given the privilege, the same ability, to make a difference and to serve. So I think the greatest message is to commit ourselves as educators and students, and realize that we have an obligation to help each other and support each other.”

“I leave this event with a greater commitment. I’m more motivated and inspired than ever in regard to servitude, making a difference in the lives of people, and understanding how important it is to having a healthy concept of who you are,” said Sweetenburg-Lee. “Every time I give a message of that magnitude, I get re-inspired to be dedicated. From what I felt in the room tonight, the people will leave with
a greater determination and a greater readiness, and can use what they have to help other people.”

In addition to Pichon’s speech, a highlight of the evening program was a performance by De Anza’s Actors’ Ensemble, directed by instructor Sarah Albertson. The performance documented the struggles of Rosa Parks and the lesser-known stories of child freedom fighters Rachel West and Sheyann Webb.

“Rosa Parks is always focused on, but Rachel and Sheyann are not,” said SJCC instructor Blair Dunton. “I thought it was interesting and refreshing that they talked about these two children, these girls who couldn’t even vote who were fighting for black voter rights.”

Sweetenburg-Lee expressed satisfaction at the diversity of audience, explaining that most Martin Luther King events she has spoken at have mostly been attended by only African-Americans. “When you see a climate of the culture such as tonight, where students came from all ethnic groups, all ages, different sexual orientations and all cultural backgrounds, it is another opportunity to teach and to share, and to bring people to a place where they can respect differences.”