Georgia Tech will kick off its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration with events honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. throughout the month of January, including the 12th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. lecture, featuring New York Times bestselling author and chair of the department of African American studies at Princeton University Eddie Glaude Jr., Ph.D. The lecture is co-sponsored by Institute Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Student Engagement and Well-Being; and Housing and Residence Life.

Each year, the Institute partners with the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change to expand access to events and programming happening on campus and in the greater Atlanta community. This year, Georgia Tech’s theme is “Cultivating Action: Working Together to Achieve a Beloved Community.”

“We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with the King Center,” said Archie Ervin, vice president for IDEI. “Their leadership and guidance allows us to expand our students' access to programming beyond our campus. We are excited to provide our students with opportunities to engage with their signature programs, such as Ebenezer Baptist Church’s annual Commemorative Service honoring Dr. King."

The King Center’s theme for 2023’s commemoration is ‘It Starts with Me: Cultivating a Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems,’” Ervin continued. “As a committee, we loved that theme but wanted to adjust it for our programming because we want our students, faculty, and staff to understand the individual role we all play in cultivating change.”

The Georgia Tech community is invited to participate in other events and programs such as the annual MLK Day of Service and the MLK “Sunday” Supper on Jan. 16 and the MLK Student Celebration on Jan. 19. Student Diversity Programs will also host an event with Robert Ratonyi, who survived the Holocaust as a child in Hungary on Jan. 29.

“The civil rights movements, both past, and present were led by college students who gave their all to change the course of history to promote and elevate human rights for our nation and the world,” said Stephanie Ray, associate dean of students and director of student diversity programs. “By participating in these opportunities that advance Dr. King’s life work, students will learn how civic leadership and engagement can lead to collective action and change.”

For more information about Georgia Tech’s MLK Celebration or to register for events, visit diversity.gatech.edu/mlk-celebration.