The 33rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

This annual celebration takes place at the iconic Fountain Street Church and celebrates the life Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. while prompts attendees to consider his legacy of love and compassion in today's social justice climate. Scholarships will be awarded to eligible students of Hispanic and African-American descent. This year's event features guest speaker Dr. Stovall, Professor of African-American Studies and Criminology, Law & Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Fountain Street Church at 6 pm.  

19th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Corporate Breakfast

Held at DeVos Place in Downtown Grand Rapids for this inspiring community celebration honoring not only the legacy of Dr. King, but also celebrating the spirit of diversity in the trailblazing leaders in business and throughout the community who personify the Urban League’s mission of a more just, peaceful, equitable and thriving Grand Rapids. DeVos Place at 7:00 am. 

Yale Professor to speak in January Series

Willie Jennings, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Africana Studies at Yale University, is the keynote speaker for the January Series speaker at Calvin College. The topic of the speech is "Dreaming the End of Racial America." Jennings is an ordained Baptist minister and is known for his theological knowledge. Covenant. Fine Arts Center Auditorium at Calvin College at 2:30-1:30 pm.  

Hope College to Host Civil Rights Lecture

The speaker for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil Rights Lecture is Joy DeGruy, an internationally recognized author, speaker, educator and researcher. DeGruy is the author of the book "Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome - America's Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing." Dimnent Memorial Chapel in Holland at 2 pm. 

MLK Day of Service Project, and more, at Ferris State

Ferris State University will host a Day of Service Project from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the University Center Rankin Atrium. Following, at 1:30 p.m., David Pilgrim of the university's center for diversity and inclusion will present. He is the founder of the  Jim Crow museum on campus and will talk about the "Early African-American Experience at Ferris." Then, the Annual Freedom March will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. and will begin at the University Center, followed by a student tribute from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Various location and times.