Martin Luther King Jr. Week of Celebration turns 45
With a theme of “Cultivating Connection, Creating Change,” this year’s celebration aims to honor King through advocacy and collective care.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of Carolina’s Martin Luther King Jr. Week of Celebration. The annual observance honors the legacy of the iconic civil rights leader with a series of events, performances and speaking engagements on campus.
The celebration begins Sunday, Jan. 18, under the theme “Cultivating Connection, Creating Change.” The theme serves as a reminder that transformative social change is possible through advocacy, community engagement and collective care.
The events are led by a student committee in conjunction with Student Wellness.
Here is a summary of the week’s events:
Hoops for Hunger Basketball Tournament
The festivities kick off at noon Jan. 18 with the Hoops for Hunger Basketball Tournament at Woollen Gym. The event will feature student teams, who are encouraged to donate nonperishable food items to support the Carolina Cupboard. Each player is required to donate five cans of food to participate, meaning the tournament alone will generate more than 300 items for local families in need.
Community Food Drive
On Jan. 19, the celebration continues with another opportunity to give back through the Community Food Drive. Hosted at the Graduate Student Center, the event is organized by Student Wellness, along with the Carolina Center for Public Service in partnership with PORCH Communities and the United Way of the Greater Triangle.
Donations of nonperishable food items from all community members are welcome from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. These donations will go to pantries in Carrboro and Chapel Hill.
Lecture and Awards Ceremony
The centerpiece of the week’s programming is the 45th annual MLK Jr. Lecture and Awards Ceremony, which will include presentations of the MLK Jr. and Harvey Beech scholarships and the MLK Jr. Unsung Hero Awards. This year’s keynote speaker will be Chief Justice (ret.) Cheri Beasley. More details about Beasley available at UNC.edu.
Doors will open at 5:45, before the event starts at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at Moeser Auditorium in Hill Hall and is open to the public, offering a chance to reflect on King’s legacy and celebrate student achievement and community leadership.
(Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)
Community Forum
The celebration continues Jan. 22 with the Community Forum from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Carolina Union. The free event invites students, faculty, staff and members of the public to engage in meaningful dialogue about student belonging and community engagement. The forum provides a space for participants to explore ways to cultivate change, foster connection and continue King’s vision of equity and social progress.
Unity Event
The week concludes Jan. 23 with the Unity Event to recognize and support various student groups, with trivia and other competitions for prizes. The event starts at 6 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Carolina Union.
Additionally, the 41st annual University/Community Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18 at the Friday Center. Carl Fox, a retired Superior Court judge, will serve as keynote speaker.
