Project 60/50 will continue its mission to foster community conversation on human and civil rights this January with the 36th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration.
"Dr. King was a man of vision, peace and hope," said Paulette Granberry Russell, senior adviser to the president for diversity and director of the Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives. "He advocated non-violence and peaceful, yet strategic efforts to promote and advance civil and human rights."
To commemorate his legacy, MSU has a variety of programs in which the MSU and greater Lansing communities are encouraged to participate Jan. 14-18.
The theme of the celebration is “If not us, then who? If not now, then when?"
Following are some of the main Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorative events taking place at MSU.
Sunday, Jan. 17
- "Jazz: Spirituals, Prayer and Protest" concert with guest composer/conductor Billy Childs
3 p.m., 7 p.m., Fairchild Theatre, MSU Auditorium
Free, but tickets are required.
Sponsored by the MSU College of Music and MSU Jazz Studies.
Monday, Jan. 18
- Community partner fair and on-site service learning projects centered around the themes of homelessness and hunger
9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Room 50, MSU Union ground floor
The fair will feature MSU and off-campus departments, organizations, community agencies and nonprofits.
Sponsored by the Center for Service Learning and Civic Engagement, Into the Streets student organization and others.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Student Leadership Conference
11:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., MSU Union Ballroom
Open to all college and high school students.
Free, but must register online. - Spike Lee’s “Let’s Get on the Bus”
10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., MSU Union Ballroom
Partial screening of the film and community discussion.
Full film screening will be shown at 7 p.m. Jan. 14-17 in Wells Hall as part of the Campus Center Cinemas Program. Residence hall students are free with ID. Non-residence hall students and public are $2 per person. - Commemorative March for Justice
3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., MSU Union Ballroom
Sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Mosaic Multicultural Unity Center and University Activities Board.
Register your group or organization here. - MSU Museum exhibits and special tour: "Student Voices: MSU Student Protest"
4:15 p.m. to 5 p.m., MSU Museum - Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship community dinner
4:45 to 6:30 p.m., Hubbard Hall Dining Cafe
Free, but must register online.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Jan. 18. Classes are canceled, but the university remains open.
All Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorative events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. For a complete list of 2016 events, including those planned by colleges and departments, go here.