Florida State University will honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. during its 33rd Annual MLK Week from Monday, Jan. 18, through Friday, Jan. 22. The weeklong celebration will feature a range of events, including virtual offerings, inspired by the theme “The Black Women in Our Lives.”
The goal of the week is to bring the FSU and Tallahassee communities together to reflect on the past and support one another to engage in social justice action and advocating for the civil rights of all.
This year, the celebration will place special emphasis on recognizing the role of Black women in the movement, including their historical impact and continued legacy both nationally and locally. The celebration will also highlight King’s Six Principles of Nonviolence, which have been institutionalized and strengthened by Coretta Scott King’s continued social justice advocacy and the monumental development of the King Center.
The primary university celebration event, “An Evening with Barbara Reynolds,” will take place Tuesday, Jan. 19. Reynolds is an ordained minister, journalist and author of several books, including “My Life, My Love, My Legacy,” the memoir of Coretta Scott King as told to Reynolds.
All events are free and open to the public. Virtual events require registration, but in-person events are on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more at mlk.fsu.edu.
Monday, Jan. 18
*** POSTPONED UNTIL FEB. 6 *** City of Tallahassee Drive-Through Parade, 12 – 2 p.m., Monroe St. between Tennessee St. and Pensacola St.
The City of Tallahassee will host its first parade in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The socially distant event will take a “reverse” approach, with floats stationed along the parade route, where attendees can drive through and see all the participating entries. For more information, visit talgov.com.
National Day of Service
Now in its 26th year, the MLK Day of Service calls for the national holiday honoring Dr. King to be spent as “a day on, not a day off” by Americans working to make their communities better. The Corporation for National & Community Service coordinates a resource page to connect volunteers to local service projects and other useful information. To learn more, visit nationalservice.gov.
Serve with Engage TLH
In the spirit of the week, students can sign up to serve locally through EngageTLH, which will re-launch some face-to-face service opportunities related to vaccine distribution beginning Jan. 18. Learn more or sign up at thecenter.fsu.edu/engagetlh.
Tuesday, Jan. 19
“Black Faces, White Spaces” Dialogue Panel, 1 – 2:30 p.m. via Zoom
FSU Sustainable Campus will host a dialogue about the book “Black Faces, White Spaces” that focuses toward reimagining and transforming the relationship that people with Black identities have with outdoor environments created for people with White identities.
An Evening with Barbara Reynolds, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom
Annie Grier, FSU’s senior coordinator for Diversity & Inclusion, will host the annual celebration, which will include the presentation of the MLK Book Stipend awards, the faculty and staff Distinguished Service Awards and performances by the College of Music. A conversation with Barbara Reynolds will be facilitated by Shantel Buggs of the Department of Sociology. Reynolds’ most notable work is “My Life, My Love, My Legacy,” Coretta Scott King’s memoir as told to Reynolds.
Wednesday, Jan. 20
Lunch and Learn featuring Mike Mitchell, 12 – 1 p.m. via Zoom
Join Mike Mitchell, program manager for the FSU Office of Research Development, for a session to assist faculty and staff with identifying university programs and resources to fund their research and programming. Topics will include tools and resources to locate funding, proposal help, funding opportunities for new faculty/young investigators, bridge grants and the Council on Research and Creativity‘s programs guide.
The Legacy of Black Women in Medicine: How Commitment to Service Led to Medicine, 6 – 7:30 p.m. via Zoom
Hosted by the FSU College of Medicine, this session takes a historical look at Black women in medicine and across generations. Panelists will discuss how service to the community influenced their interest in medicine and academic medicine. Panelists include Dr. Alma B. Littles, senior associate dean for Medical Education and Academic Affairs, Dr. Joedrecka S. Brown Speights, professor and chair, Department of Family Medicine and Rural Health, Dr. Shermeeka Hogans-Mathews, professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Rural Health, and second year medical student Tayeisha Nelson and third year medical student Adrianna Tilton.
Thursday, Jan. 21
Black Girl Magic Lunch-in, 12 – 1 p.m. via Zoom
Bring a lunch and join members of the Black Faculty Staff Network for a “Black Girl Magic” lunch-in.
Looking Back and Thinking Ahead: A Curated Conversation of Black Women in Dance, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom
Hosted by the FSU School of Dance and the FSU Department of Art Education, panelists Kehinde Ishangi, Millicent Johnnie and Melissa Cobblah Gutierrez will lead a discussion focusing on the role of Black Women in dance.
Friday, Jan. 22
Student Lunch and Learn, 1 – 2 p.m.
Hosted by FSU Athletics and the Black Student Athlete Association, join host Ana de Faria, FSU senior and swimmer, for a lunch session featuring alumnae Angel Gray and Morgan Jones, formerly of the FSU Women’s Basketball.
MLK Week Presents: “Hidden Figures” on Landis Green, 7 – 9 p.m.
Join the Askew Student Life Cinema (ASLC) and the MLK Celebration Week Committee on Landis Green for an outdoor screening of “Hidden Figures” and a celebration of Martin Luther King’s legacy. There is a maximum of 50 participants, and this screening’s seating will be on a first come first serve basis.
MLK Week Presents: Mobile Pantry Distribution, 7 – 9 p.m., Landis Green
During the ASLC’s showing of “Hidden Figures,” the Food For Thought Pantry and the MLK Celebration Week Committee will host a mobile food distribution. FSU students can receive free produce and dry staples such as rice and beans.
For more information and registration for each event, visit mlk.fsu.edu.