Mel Reeves to speak in Christ Chapel

Social justice activist and Northwestern College alumnus Mel Reeves will speak in chapel services on Monday, March 26, at 10:05 a.m. and Tuesday, March 27, at 11:05 a.m. in Christ Chapel. The events are open to the public.

Reeves is a consultant, journalist, political organizer, minister-in-training and commentator, among many other roles in the Twin Cities area. He seeks to help gain social equality for people of all ethnicities and incomes through his work.

“Most people spend their lives fighting for what is right,” Reeves said, “and I want to relate what that justice means for us as Christians.” Reeves’ chapel address is entitled “Occupying our Faith” and will focus on social justice and how the Bible can be looked at from this perspective.

Reeves’ passion for political activism came from a position at Clergy and Laity Concerned, where he worked on racial justice issues. From there, he got involved in other human rights issues and the Occupy Minnesota movement. Reeves writes a bi-weekly column, Mellaneous, for the Spokesman- Recorder, a newspaper that serves the African-American community.

A 1981 graduate of Northwestern, Reeves is appearing under the auspices of the Ronald R. Nelson Scholars and Artists in Residence Program, which seeks to inspire students with scholarship that encourages peace and justice. The program is named in honor of Ron Nelson, a history professor who taught at Northwestern from 1974 until his death in 1985.