Purdue University Northwest to celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

December 21, 2022

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) invites the community to take part in its annual celebration of the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The university will host community conversations and a keynote speaker on Jan. 12, 2023 and offer volunteer service opportunities on Jan. 16, 2023.

“This year we were able to make changes that will allow more faculty, staff and students to engage in conversations around King’s life,” said Kristen Lewis, student engagement and belonging coordinator at PNW. “Community is a huge part of King’s legacy and to continue to build on his legacy requires people to come together to discuss, listen, learn and join in the work of justice as a community. I hope these two days are just the start of conversations and actions.”

The keynote speaker will be Carol Anderson, the Charles Howard Candler Professor of African American Studies at Emory University and New York Times bestselling author. The live virtual presentation will take place at 3:45 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12, at Alumni Hall in the Student Union and Library Building on the Hammond campus, 2233 173rd St., Hammond, IN and the James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex on the Westville campus, 1401 S. U.S. 421, Westville, IN. Prior to Anderson’s presentation, community conversations will be held around a variety of topics related to King’s legacy.

On Monday, Jan. 16, the PNW campuses will be closed; however, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to “Take the Day ‘On’” and volunteer for a service project or a day of work to highlight King’s legacy. The university will help facilitate several community service activities that day.

Since 1992, Purdue University Northwest has partnered with the community to remember King’s dream and legacy of equity, inclusion and justice.

For more information, registration and sponsorship opportunities for these multi-day celebrations, visit pnw.edu/mlk-celebration.