Bernice A. King, J.D., a global thought leader, strategist, solutionist, orator, peace advocate and CEO of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia, will kick off Kent State University’s celebration of Black History Month by serving as the keynote speaker at the university’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, which honors the life and legacy of her father.
King continues to advance her parents’ legacy of nonviolent social change through policy, advocacy, research, education and training. Under her leadership, the King Center has implemented numerous initiatives reaching more than 500,000 people around the world.
She spearheaded the 2013 “Let Freedom Ring” event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and her father’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The global event included former presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter; members of Congress; international leaders; dignitaries; and entertainers.
The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will take place on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom. This ticketed event is free and open to the public. Tickets will be available on Jan. 11, 2023. To redeem your ticket, visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration website.
Call for MLK Programming
The university’s Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Events Planning Committee is welcoming university divisions, departments and student organizations to submit programming, activities and events (scheduled Jan. 30-Feb. 3, 2023) to the University Events Calendar. Be sure to select signature program and then select MLK.
We encourage that programming follows Kent State’s Events and Activities Guidelines and avoids Feb. 2, as this will be the date of the university’s annual keynote celebration. If you need assistance in starting to plan your program, please read through this short program planning guide.
Please contact Shana Lee (slee@kent.edu) or Katie Mattise (kmattise@kent.edu) regarding any questions.