Northwest to honor legacy of MLK during annual Celebration Week activities

Northwest to honor legacy of MLK during annual Celebration Week activities

Northwest Missouri State University's Office of Diversity and Inclusion will commemorate the work of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. with its annual Celebration Week, beginning Friday, Jan. 17, and concluding Friday, Jan. 25.

The activities, which are free and open to the public, launch with Northwest's annual Peace Brunch from noon to 2 p.m. on Jan. 17 in the J.W. Jones Student Union Ballroom. The brunch honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy and will feature Northwest alumnus Dr. Tyrone Bates Jr. as the keynote speaker.

The brunch also includes the presentation of Northwest's Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion Awards, which honor faculty and staff members who have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to Dr. King's principles and ideals of freedom, equality, justice, liberty, individuality and respect while furthering Northwest's commitment to those principles and ideals.

"Martin Luther King's unwavering commitment to social change serves as an example of how we can overcome adversity and create a more inclusive and equitable society," Dr. Shay Malone, Northwest's assistant vice president of institutional excellence and global engagement, said. "Through his leadership, we have learned that unity, compassion and a shared vision for justice are powerful tools for transforming our communities and fostering lasting change. By reflecting on his life during our Celebration Week, we gain inspiration to carry forward his vision of a better world."

Bates is the president and chief executive officer of True Empowering LLC, a consulting agency dedicated to helping organizations maximize recruiting, minimize turnover and enhance retirement rates among staff. While his career spans roles as a teacher, academic coach and school administrator - all reflecting a deep commitment to education, equity and leadership - Bates specializes in transforming organizational cultures and bridging communication across cultural divides.

A native of Chicago, he has a bachelor's degree in biology, an educational specialist degree and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, all from Northwest. He earned his doctoral degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Additionally, he serves on non-profit boards, including Gordon Parks Elementary and Scholar Smarts. A 24-year-member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., he mentors young leaders and contributes to initiatives promoting community uplift.

The Celebration Week's activities continue with a lecture, documentary screening and a school supply drive; more details are provided below. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Week activities at Northwest are sponsored by the University's Office of Diversity and Inclusion. For more information, contact Malone at [email protected].

"Don't let the sun set on you! The Hidden History of Sundown Towns"

Noon to 1 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21; J.W. Jones Student Union Meeting Room B

During the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr. traveled extensively across the United States, delivering sermons, leading non-violent protests, and organizing with fellow civil rights community leaders and college students. For many Black Americans, travel during the era was met with challenges due to the oppressive Jim Crow laws that imposed severe restrictions and the unspoken rules of "sundown towns" - where African Americans faced threats if they were found in certain areas after dark.

Malone will delve into the often-overlooked history of sundown towns, examining their impact on African American communities. The presentation highlights historical narratives from these towns and their residents, exploring how legacies influence the identity and dynamics of these communities today.

"King In the Wilderness"

Noon to 2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 25; J.W. Jones Student Union Meeting Room D

The documentary about Martin Luther King Jr. focuses on the final two years of his life up to his assassination on April 4, 1968. The film includes never-before-seen footage of interviews with some of the people closest to King. Despite self-doubts as he was coming to terms with his possible death, King refused to back away from the Civil Rights and anti-war challenges of his time.

School Supply Drive

Jan. 17-25

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. will collect school supplies for students at East High School in Kansas City, Missouri, and school supply packets will be assembled Jan. 25, in the Office of Diversity and Engagement at the J.W. Jones Student Union.

Needed items include composition books; highlighters, pens and pencils; calculators; winter gloves, scarves and hats; and colored copy paper.

Donations may be left at the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in the Student Union, the Robert and Virginia Foster Fitness Center, the second floor of the B.D. Owens Library and Room 263 of the Administration Building.

About Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Although Martin Luther King Jr. was born Jan. 15, 1929, his birthday has been observed as a national holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, on the third Monday of each January since 1986.

In observance of the holiday, Northwest will not have classes on Monday, Jan. 20, and all University offices are closed.

King's effort to lead the American Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and '60s included the 1963 March on Washington. There, he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech, which dramatically raised public consciousness about civil rights and established King as a world figure. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis Tennessee.