MLK Celebration to Honor Grills’ Social Justice Work

Loyola Marymount University's annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration will honor the work of Professor Cheryl Grills on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 11 a.m. in St. Robert's Auditorium.

This annual campus celebration hosted by Ethnic and Intercultural Services, Campus Ministry, and the Office of Black Student Services brings the campus community together for a day of remembrance and reflection King's life and legacy. This year's theme, "Unseen Leadership," remembers female figures King acknowledged propelling the civil rights movement. He noted the crucial roles of organizers, caregivers, and activists like Rosa Parks, Ella Baker, and Fannie Lou Hamer, who each embodied the strength and courage that King praised in his speeches, even as these women faced gendered barriers alongside racial oppression.

The celebration will be hosted by LMU students Mariah Allen '26, a political science major and president of the LMU Black Student Union and Christjin Bell '26, a psychology major and president of Words of Mouth Poetry Club. Remarks will also be given by President Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D., Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Kawanna Leggett, Ramsey Jeanty, campus minister for ecumenical student life, and Landell Collins from the Beta Psi Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. Professor Nathan Kweku John will share a poem and members from the Faithful Central Community Church Choir will also share two song selections, including, "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

Grills will be honored with the King Legacy Award, which recognizes individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to national civil rights and social justice. In addition to honoring Grills, two other new awards will be presented: the MLK Community Advocate Award, which celebrates faculty, staff, or alumni from LMU who embody King's vision through their work and commitment to equity and justice within the campus community, and the MLK Emerging Leader Award, honoring a student who demonstrated exceptional leadership and initiative in advancing MLK's dream of equality, peace, and justice within their community.

Since coming to LMU to teach psychology in 1987, Grills has been committed to community work, guiding and inspiring her teaching for over three decades. She founded and directs the Psychology Applied Research Center (PARC). Under her leadership, PARC conducts community-based participatory evaluation and action research, addressing health disparities, mental health, education, and social justice in underserved communities. Grills' unwavering commitment to social justice, her innovative approaches to community healing, and her leadership in addressing systemic inequalities embody the spirit and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Her life's work serves as a testament to the enduring pursuit of equality and human rights, making her a deserving recipient of an award honoring King's legacy.

Grills also founded Imoyase Community Support Services, a nonprofit organization providing action research, program evaluation, and strategic technical assistance to community-based social justice and social service organizations. Her work with this organization demonstrates her dedication to empowering communities through research and support services.

Her leadership roles extend to national organizations, including as the past president of the Association of Black Psychologists. In this capacity, she co-designed the emotional emancipation circles, a community self-help model addressing racial stress and trauma associated with anti-Black racism. Through these initiatives, Grills has trained individuals of African ancestry worldwide to facilitate healing circles, promoting mental health and resilience in marginalized communities.

In 1991, Grills founded LMU's now annual tradition of hosting Kente Graduation, an annual rite of passage celebrating students of African descent's personal and academic achievements, marking their transition from college life to adulthood. The ceremony incorporates African cultural traditions, including the presentation of Kente stoles, handmade in Ghana. During the ceremony, each student is presented with the Kente stole during a naming ceremony. Kente graduates receive a day name in the Akan tradition of Ghana and an African name meant to reflect who they are, what they have accomplished, and what they are inspired to do. This tradition symbolizes each student's uniqueness and place within LMU's Black community. Over the years, LMU's Kente Graduation has become a cherished tradition at LMU, reflecting the university's commitment to diversity and inclusion. During the most recent 2024 LMU Kente Graduation, Grills shared this message with the community: "In our African traditions, rites are ceremonies that mark critical events in the lives of our people. They include those rituals by which our children successfully come to know who they are, what they are about, and the purpose and meaning of their existence."

Grills' commitment to systemic change is demonstrated through her service on various commissions. She served on the California Reparations Taskforce from 2021 to 2023 and was a commissioner on the National African American Reparations Commission (NAARC). Additionally, she holds a position on the Los Angeles County Sybil Brand Commission for Institutional Inspections, where she focuses on conditions within county jails and correctional facilities. Her involvement in these roles highlights her dedication to addressing structural inequalities and advocating for policy reforms that align with King's vision of justice and equality.

In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Grills was appointed as a President's Professor at LMU, the highest honor bestowed upon university faculty. This accolade reflects her exceptional scholarly work, research productivity, and significant impact on student learning and community engagement.