University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration 2022

Profile of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. against a gradient of blue clouds

The 2022 annual celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. features several events focused on the theme “The time is always right to do what is right.”

This year’s celebration will begin with the MLK Advocacy for Justice Celebration, Sunday, January 16 at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and will feature a keynote by Dr. Derek Barber King, Sr., nephew of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Other events throughout the month include the Unity Breakfast at The Vineyard Church on Monday, January 17; a presentation on food insecurity and child care in Champaign County on Thursday, January 20; and a virtual poverty simulation sponsored by the University of Illinois School of Social Work on Friday, January 28.

Continuing the ministry of his late father and uncle, Dr. Derek Barber King, Sr. facilitates workshops and seminars related to the subject of creating social change utilizing nonviolent strategies and tactics. A fulltime Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Martin University for 19 years, Dr. King was ordained as a minister at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, and facilitates workshops and seminars related to the subject of creating social change utilizing non violent strategies and tactics, continuing the ministry of his late father A. D. King, Sr. and uncle Martin Luther King, Jr.

Each year the Annual County-wide Celebration commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by bringing together community members from Champaign County to celebrate the mission, teachings, and legacy of Dr. King. The MLK Advocacy for Justice Celebration is sponsored by the MLK Advocacy for Justice Committee, Inc. in partnership with the MLK Countywide Committee and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The celebration is free and open to the public. Proof of COVID vaccination required to enter the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. For details, please see the Krannert Center COVID-19 Safety Protocols page.

To request disability-related accommodations for this event, please contact the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at diversity@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs.

For a current calendar of events, please visit go.illinois.edu/MLK2022.