In the days after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, when cities around the country were burning in race riots, law Professor Steven Hobbs helped lead his predominantly white high school’s program of remembrance for the slain civil rights leader. Hobbs, then a boy scout and today the Tom Bevill legal ethics chair at the University of Alabama School of Law, went on to raise money for a youth center in Dr. King’s name. Along the way, he learned that in the face of sorrow, adversity and oppression, you can still build rather than destroy. “The idea of being a change agent is something all of us can participate in,” Hobbs told a crowd of 100 gathered for his talk on the Harrisburg campus Thursday, Jan. 24. “It’s important to have a vision of a future of the world you want to live in. Be able to see that type of vision Dr. King was seeing.” Hobbs’ speech marked the campus’ annual celebration of King’s life and legacy, and he entertained the crowd with anecdotes of his own life growing up in New Jersey. After the talk, reflections on Hobbs’ remarks were shared by Peter Speaks, deputy secretary and special advisor to the governor for minority, women-owned and disadvantaged business development. The program was organized by the faculty Diversity Committee and is sponsored by the law school.Photo captions: photo 1: University of Alabama School of Law Professor Steven Hobbsphoto 2: Fateen Bullock, president of the Black Law Students Association, presents speaker Steven Hobbs, with a thank-you gift for serving as the school's speaker for the 2008 celebration of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Looking on is Law Dean Linda L. Ammons. photo 3: From left, Peter Speaks, deputy secretary and special advisor to the governor for minority, women-owned and disadvantaged business development; Law Dean Linda L. Ammons; Fateen Bullock, president of the Black Law Student Association.