FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DANVILLE AUTHOR TO SPEAK AT

DCC’S KING CELEBRATION

            DANVILLE, VA,  January 6, 2006 - Danville native, Evans Hopkins will be Danville Community College on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 11 a.m. in Oliver Hall (Temple Building, Room 110) to discuss his new book, Life After Life: A Story of Rage and Redemption. The presentation is being held in commemoration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Hopkins’s book chronicles his personal “journey”, beginning with his early years in Danville during the civil rights movement; his activities as a member of the Black Panther Party, including working at its headquarters in Oakland, CA; his foray into crime and subsequent incarceration for almost 20 years; his writing career with national media such as The Washington Post newspaper and New Yorker magazine; and, finally his release from prison, return to the community, and his present role as a published author and motivational speaker.

His story presents a powerful message to young people about past reactions to injustice, choices they must make and about “turning one’s life around” and “overcoming” the mistakes of the past. 

            The presentation will feature a lecture and question-and-answer session. It is cosponsored by the DCC Afro-American Culture Club and Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count, a national initiative to help more community college students succeed. 

            This event is open to the public and offered free of charge. People of all ages, especially youth, are encouraged to attend. For more information on this event, please contact Russell Scruggs, Assistant Professor of History at 434-797-8513.