Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration
The annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration highlights and memorializes the work, accomplishments, and legacy of one of the greatest Civil Rights and African American leaders in modern history. The Celebration, organized by the collective efforts of students, faculty and staff led committees, conceptualizes and executes a series of events to engage the LSU and greater Baton Rouge community on actualizing Dr. King's ideals of social justice, non-violence, education, and service.
2021 Schedule
Due to COVID safety concerns, many of MLK 2021 events will be moved to a virtual and/or hybrid structure. Please check back for additional details as they announced. Thank you!
MLK Day of Service (Virtual)
Date: Monday, January 18, 2021
Time: All Day
Location: Event will be held virtually
Contact: oma@lsu.edu or 225-578-4339
Each year, approximately 200+ volunteers comprised of LSU students, staff, and community members make it "a day on not a day off" and engage in service projects through MLK Day of Service. Individuals as well as organizations can reserve their spot today. Your participation is key to our impactful service.
This year, to celebrate Day of Service while also maintaining social distancing protocols, we have designed a list of ideas that you can do around your house and in your neighborhood to give back to the community! Complete your virtual day of service in three easy steps.
Step 1: Download the Virtual Day of Service Guide
Step 2: Complete Your Service Project
Remember, please stay safe and socially-distanced during your service project and wear all of the recommended personal protective equipment.
Step 3: Complete the Post-Service Project Survey
When completing the survey, be sure to include a brief description of your project, the number of hours you served, and any pictures you would like us to showcase about your service project! We will be selecting several service opportunities to spotlight on our social media, so be sure to following on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
MLK Commemorative Program (Virtual)
Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Location: Virtual Zoom Event
Contact: oma@lsu.edu or 225-578-4339
Each year, the MLK Commemorative Program brings the foremost authors, scholars, and activists to our campus for critical discussion on diversity, education, and issues of social justice. Former MLK Commemorative Keynote Speakers include Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Dr. Nikki Giovanni, Myrlie Evers-Williams, Alicia Garza, Shaun King, Dr. John Carlos, Symone Sanders, and Yusef Salaam.
This year's keynote is Wendy Greene, J.D., LL.M. The daughter of American civil rights activists, Professor Doris “Wendy” Greene is a trailblazing U.S. anti-discrimination law scholar, teacher, and advocate who has devoted her professional life’s work to advancing racial, color, and gender equity in workplaces and beyond. Professor Greene crafted the legal blueprint for historic civil rights legislation known as the C.R.O.W.N. Acts (Creating a Respectful World for Natural Hair Acts) while also shaping the enforcement stance of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), federal courts, administrative law judges, and civil and human rights organizations in groundbreaking civil rights matters.
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.
Accessing the event is easy!
- Go to https://zoom.us/
- Type in the meeting ID: 910 9354 9604
- Enter the passcode 750417
You can also access the event by clicking on the link below. The link will open at 11:30 AM on Tuesday, January 19th, 2021.
If you have any questions, please call us at 225-578-4339, or email us at oma@lsu.edu. We look forward to seeing you at this year's MLK keynote address!
Performing Arts Night & Candlelight Vigil (Canceled for 2021)
Date: Canceled Due to Social Distancing Guidelines
Time: Canceled
Location: Canceled
Contact: oma@lsu.edu;or 225-578-4339
One of the most anticipated events of the MLK Commemorative Celebration is Performing Arts Night (PAN). You will witness the hard work, dedication, and most importantly, the amazing talents of LSU students and students from around the area. Every year we come together in celebration to offer students an outlet of expression to honor both the dream and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through their choice of artistic expression. Dr. King's enduring legacy has long been associated with his means of creative expression as an orator, a reverend and a civil rights activist. The MLK Performing Arts Night is free and open to the public.
Unity Celebration (Virtual)
Date: Thursday, January 21, 2021
Time: Pre-Recorded Program Will Premiere at 5:30 PM
Location: Baton Rouge Community College
Contact: oma@lsu.edu or 225-578-4339
The MLK Unity Celebration will take place on Thursday, January 21st at 5:30 pm at Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC). This year's event is entirely virtual and pre-recorded. The recording will be available for 30 days, and will premiere at 5:30 PM.
The MLK Unity Celebration is a time-honored tradition joining together Louisiana State University, Southern University, and Baton Rouge Community College for a celebration and commitment to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. During the Unity Reception we proudly recognize the contributions of our leaders with a keynote address, encourage our student leaders to reflect on their role in resolving critical community issues, and to take initiative in enhancing unity among diverse groups within our community.
MLK Food Drive
January 11th, 2021 though January 31st, 2021
The 2021 MLK Food Drive will be collecting food donations to help the LSU Food Pantry. Due to COVID concerns, we will not be hosting the annual competition this year. Instead, food donations can be taken directly to the LSU Food Pantry on the first floor of the LSU Student Union between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM Monday-Friday. When you drop-off the donation, please mention the MLK Food Drive so we can calculate our total impact for the year. Items in need are listed below:
Here's what you can donate:
Most Needed
- Canned fruit
- Peanut Butter
- Pantry supplies: flour, sugar, spices, etc.
- Packaged dry pasta: elbow macaroni, spaghetti noodles, etc.
- Baking mixes: muffins, cornbread, pancakes, waffles, etc.
- Batteries
Also Needed
- Canned meals: soup, chili, stew, beans, etc.
- Boxed meals: mac and cheese, rice pouches
- Sauces: spaghetti, alfredo, teriyaki, BBQ, etc.
- Individually labeled snack foods: cookies, chips, crackers, etc.
Somewhat Needed
- Canned meats: tuna, chicken, SPAM, etc.
- Canned veggies
- Drinks: sodas, water, etc.
- Candy
- Pet food
- Paper products
- Other food and personal products not mentioned above will fall into this category
Please contact us if you have any questions.