Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Events on Campus and Beyond

In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a variety of events will be taking place. We invite you to check out events happening near you, including several that will be happening on university campus. A full list of events supported by campus can be found here.

Sunday, January 19
Martin Luther King, Jr. Countywide Celebration

Each year, the Cities of Champaign and Urbana come together with Champaign County, the Village of Rantoul, Parkland College and the University of Illinois to host a countywide celebration honoring the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Monday, January 20
MLK Day at Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will once again honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr with a daylong celebration of the iconic civil rights leader.

The day’s events will be highlighted by actor Reggie Guyton reciting Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech at 10:30 a.m and 12:30 p.m. in the Museum’s central Plaza. King originally delivered the speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963 during the civil rights march in Washington, D.C. He praised Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation as “a great beacon of hope” but said African Americans were still chained by segregation and discrimination.

MLK Day is recognized as a “National Day of Service”. To that end, the museum is partnering with the ImpactLife Blood Center to host an on-site visit from the center’s mobile blood unit. Between 10am-2pm, museum guests, staff, and volunteers will have the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and donate the “gift of life”. If you’d like to schedule a donation appointment, please go to bloodcenter.org.

Tuesday, January 21
MLK Celebration 2025 Lecturer: Dr. Rebecca Ginsburg, Finding the Beloved Community in Prison

Each year a distinguished faculty member is asked to speak on the ideals and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year’s speaker will be Dr. Rebecca Ginsburg, co-founder and current director of the Education Justice Project (EJP).

Access to college not only enhances the eventual earning prospects of incarcerated individuals. At their best, higher education in prison programs create loving, supportive, brave spaces within these violent environments. This talk explores the potential for creating education-based beloved communities within prisons and argues that truly committing to the values of such communities requires closing prisons down.

Please email Medra Roberts-Southerland with questions or accommodation needs at mrs@illinois.edu.

Wednesday, January 22
MLK Champions

The MLK Champions recognition program will celebrate the MLK legacy by recognizing the power of community action to honor local partners, students, faculty, and staff who have dedicated their talents to enhancing the movement of justice, equity, and dignity. The evening will inspire and feature a keynote speaker and local community performers. Featured keynote for the evening will be Ashley Etienne, Communications Strategist and senior advisor to our nation’s most powerful leaders: Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Friday, February 7
School of Social Work Immersive Simulated Experience: Poverty and Service

Step into the shoes of those facing financial hardships in our community with an immersive simulated experience. Acknowledging the profound impact of poverty, the School of Social Work, in collaboration with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and the Champaign Urbana Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. invites students, faculty, staff, and community members to participate in a unique event designed to provide a firsthand understanding of life under financial constraints. During this “Immersive Simulated Experience,” participants will navigate the challenges of limited resources and heightened stress. The simulation encourages individuals to perceive poverty from various perspectives and fosters discussions on the potential for personal and community-driven change. These thought-provoking experiences are crafted to sensitize participants to the harsh realities of poverty, sparking a dialogue on the path toward positive transformation. Registration is required.