Calendar of Events
Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
January 15–28, 2023
The information included in this calendar has been provided by each event sponsor. For questions, please email the event contact listed. Comments, opinions, and recommendations expressed are those of the speakers and presenters and do not necessarily reflect the views of the 2023 MLK Commemorative Planning Committee.
For the 2024 calendar, please visit go.illinois.edu/MLKCelebration.
If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate, please email the contact for the event listed below. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs.
Advocacy for Social Justice and MLK Countywide Committees
38th Annual Dr. MLK Jr. Service of Celebration
Sunday, January 15, 2023 from 5 to 7 pm
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Foellinger Great Hall
500 South Goodwin Avenue
Urbana, IL
Featured Keynote Speaker: Rev. Joel King, first cousin of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The partnership of the Advocacy for Justice and the County-wide MLK Committee will celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This event will highlight the academic achievement of local area high school students in announcing this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship recipients and include the presentation of the James R. Burgess, Jr. Award , Susan Freiburg Humanitarian Award, the Doris Hoskins Prestigious Community Service Award, and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Outstanding Achievement Award. This year’s keynote speaker will be Rev. Joel King, first cousin of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sponsored by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Advocacy for Justice Committee, MLK County-wide Committee, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
For additional questions or to request disability-related accommodations for this event, please contact the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at diversity@illinois.edu.
38th Annual Unity Breakfast
Monday, January 16, 2023 from 8:30 to 11 am
Vineyard Church
1500 N. Lincoln Avenue
Urbana, IL
Community members are invited to attend the 38th Annual Unity Breakfast sponsored by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Advocacy for Justice Committee and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and hosted by the Vineyard Church. Please join us as we honor Dr. King, the most important voice of the civil rights movement and recognize the 2023 Dr. King Scholarship recipients.
Sponsored by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Advocacy for Justice Committee.
For more information contact Domonic Cobb, dcobb@illinois.edu.
MLK Day Blood Drive
Monday, January 16, 2023, 11:00 am to 3 pm
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School
1108 Fairview Avenue
Urbana, IL
Registration Required
According to the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’” While many think of the MLK holiday as a day off, I encourage you to make it a “day on” by donating blood for patients in local hospitals. Just one blood donation can save up to three lives. Those who give blood on this date and who are first-time donors to ImpactLife (local blood bank) will receive a $25.00 gift card to a local store or restaurant. Must be 16 years of age or older to donate. 16 year olds need parental consent.
Sponsored by Impact Life, Urbana High School Senior Amari Johnson, and the Urbana School District
For more information and questions, please email Tori Exum-Johnson at texum@illinois.edu.
University of Illinois Police Department
MLK Day of Service Community Building Volunteer Experience
Monday, January 16, 2023, 12–4 pm (Check-In begins at 11)
On Monday, January 16, 2023, the University of Illinois Police Department will commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King’s Day of Service by creating a space where members of the community will have to opportunity to work together with a variety of Non-Profit organizations alongside some of our police officers. Dr. King once said that the “The aftermath of nonviolence is the creation of the beloved community. The aftermath of nonviolence is redemption. The aftermath of nonviolence is reconciliation.” Let’s help one another create and maintain such a “Beloved Community” by engaging in community service that will help our agencies spread unity, peace, and a common understanding in the place we call home.
Volunteers will have the opportunity to engage in different activities and projects led by participating agencies meant to help members of the community in a variety of ways and purposes.
Vendors: The Salvation Army, Stephens Family YMCA, Parkland College PD, Salt & Light, DREAMM, Family Service RSVP, and Feeding Our Kids
Sponsored by the University of Illinois Police Department, Community Outreach and Support Team, Illini Union, and the 2023 MLK Commemorative Planning Committee.
For more information contact Dementro “Debo” Powell, dementro@illinois.edu.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Reflection & Service
Monday, January 16, 2023 at 6:00 pm
Levis Faculty Center, Room 300
919 W Illinois St.
Urbana, IL
Keynote: Dr. Jamie Washington, co-founder of the Social Justice Training Institute
Every Spring, the Office of Civic Life assists students in exploring the legacy of service of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This program is a part of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s Commemorative Celebration. This year, the MLK Day of Service will engage campus and community partners in recognizing the power of community action and civic engagement as local partners and students convene to honor the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. vision of impacting others through social change. This event will acknowledge the work and engagement of “MLK Champions” who have dedicated their talents to enhancing a movement of justice, equity, and dignity.
This program will be keynoted by Dr. Jamie Washington, co-founder of the Social Justice Training Institute. Doors open at 5:30 and program begins at 6 pm.
Sponsored by the Office of Civic Life and the 2023 MLK Commemorative Planning Committee.
For more information contact Gina Lee-Olukoya, golukoya@illinois.edu.
Action, Not Silence: Moving Advocacy and Coalition Building Forward for Social Change Workshop
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this event is canceled.
This student-centered workshop focuses on a pathways for students as they explore civic responsibility through advocacy and coalition building to address critical societal issues.
Sponsored by the Office of Civic Life, University Housing, Fraternity & Sorority Affairs , and the 2023 MLK Commemorative Planning Committee.
For more information contact Gina Lee-Olukoya, golukoya@illinois.edu.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University Housing
The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks film
Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 5 pm
SDRP 2025A Scott Multi-purpose Room
The story of Rosa Parks’ radical politics and dedication to activism told through interviews, powerful archival footage, and her own words. Run time 1 hour and 36 mins, watch the Movie trailer here.
Sponsored by the Residential Inclusion and Leadership Mentors, 2023 MLK Commemorative Planning Committee, the Central Black Student Union, and C.O.R.E.
For more information contact January Boten, botenja@illinois.edu.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
K-12 Creative Expressions Contest
Saturday, January 21, 2023, 10 am to 12 pm
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
500 South Goodwin Avenue
Urbana, IL
The College of Education will award the winners and honorable mention recipients of the K-12 MLK Creative Expressions Contest. This event will highlight the talents of our local students through essay, poems, and art.
Sponsored by the College of Education, and the 2023 MLK Commemorative Planning Committee.
For additional information contact Victor H. Perez, vhperez@illinois.edu.
LAS Global Leaders Program
Life on Purpose: Standing Up for Environmental Justice
Tuesday, January 24, 2023, 7 to 8:30 pm
Siebel Center for Design
The LAS Global Leaders Program (GLP) is a four-year, cohort-based initiative that equips students to develop social innovations for global challenges using Human-Centered Design. Related to the GLP 2022-2023 theme of environmental justice, students and staff will host two speakers to address this timely issue from a professional and student perspective. Other planned activities will include smaller working group sessions where participants will dialogue about environmental justice challenges and how to personally and collectively take a greater stand in their communities. Finally, participants will have the opportunity to artistically reflect what they discussed on recyclable materials.
Sponsored by the LAS Global Leaders Program.
For additional information contact Dr. Esther Ngumbi, enn@illinois.edu.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Social Work
Poverty Simulation
Friday, January 27, 2023 from 1 to 3 pm
School of Social Work
1010 West Nevada, Urbana
The impact of poverty in any community can be both devastating and hastening. It is a reality for many individuals and families; it’s difficult to truly understand poverty unless you have experienced poverty. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s advocacy work around poverty issues, the School of Social Work, in partnership with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, invites students, faculty, staff, and community members to engage in a poverty simulation that helps participants begin to understand what life is like with a shortage of money and an abundance of stress. The simulation enables participants to view poverty from different angles and discuss the potential for change within themselves and their local communities. It is designed to sensitize participants to the realities of poverty.
For additional information contact Sharva Hampton-Campbell, shamcamp@illinois.edu.
Sponsored by the School of Social Work and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.