Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebrations
Thank you to all who attended our annual community conversation programming and participated in the day of service! We look forward to seeing you at next year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations.
Purdue Northwest celebrates MLK Day
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) celebrated its annual MLK Day recognition through several events intended to not only honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, but also capture the spirit of social justice and service to the community.
History of the MLK Community Celebrations at PNW
For decades now, the Purdue University Northwest campuses have partnered with the community to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
In 1992, PNW’s Hammond campus held its first MLK celebration, “The Dream: Diversity and Pluralism in Higher Education.” Professor Marcellus Barksdale, professor of history at Morehouse College, was the keynote speaker. The Brunswick Elementary School Choir (Gary) was the special guest.
In 1996, the MLK celebration started on PNW’s Westville campus when 12-year-old Michigan City resident Sarah asked her mother, Felicia Thomas, on several occasions why Michigan City did not have events to acknowledge and remember Dr. King’s Life. As a result, Felicia and Samara McNeal established a vision of a city-wide celebration of the life of Martin Luther King. They invited others to join in the vision, and annual community events and festivals have occurred ever since in collaboration with numerous community partners and organizations.
Combining the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of our two campuses, Purdue University Northwest will celebrate the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in a multi-day event. Please support our continued efforts and quest to remember Dr. King’s dream and legacy of equity, inclusion and justice.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Community sponsors are welcome for Purdue University Northwest’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebrations. If you’re interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact Don Babcock, director of economic development and community relations, at babcocd@pnw.edu or (219) 746-6115.
2023 Sponsors
Dreamer ($7,500+)
- Purdue University Northwest Cultural Heritage Celebration Committee
- NIPSCO
Justice Seeker ($2,500)
- Horizon
Silence Breaker ($1,000)
- Shive-Hattery
- Urban League
- Visit Michigan City LaPorte
$500
- PNW Department of Psychology
Sponsorship Levels
Dreamer – $7,500
Speaker Sponsor
Benefits include the opportunity to introduce or make remarks prior to the speaker livestream and receive logo recognition on screen.
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed…”
– I Have a Dream, 1963
Justice-Seeker – $2,500
Reception Sponsor – Hammond or Westville
Benefits include logo and name recognition on screen and on banner or easel at the reception.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
– Letter from a Birmingham Jail, 1963
Silence-Breaker – $1,000
Community Conversation Sponsor – Hammond or Westville
Benefits include the opportunity to make remarks prior to the community conversation and receive logo recognition on screen.
“…I have moved to break the betrayal of my own silences and to speak from the burnings of my own heart…”
– Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break the Silence, 1967
Marcher – $1,000
MLK Celebration Doughnut and Coffee Sponsor – Hammond or Westville
Benefits include logo and name recognition on screen and on banner or easel at the reception.
“Like an idea whose time has come, not even the marching of mighty armies can halt us.”
– Our God is Marching On, 1965
To request a disability-related accommodation for this event, please contact the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at timothyg@pnw.edu or (219) 989-2163 five days prior to the event.