Each January, Indiana University holds a series of events to celebrate and honor civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and to provide students, faculty, staff and community members with opportunities to connect and have conversations about how to carry Dr. King’s message of social justice and global peace forward.
To honor the life of Dr. King, Indiana University will host its traditional MLK Leadership Breakfast on Monday, January 20, 2025, from 9:30 until 11:30 a.m., at the Indiana Memorial Union, Alumni Hall, Bloomington, Indiana. Attendees will enjoy breakfast and fellowship with IU and community colleagues and friends before beginning a day of service. The program includes music, a presentation of IU’s Building Bridges Awards and more.
The program keynote will be delivered by Rev. Leah Gunning Francis, Ph.D., Indiana University Health senior vice president and chief mission and values officer, where she provides direction to ensure engagement in ethical practice, quality spiritual and pastoral care and effective philanthropy within the organization and the communities where IU Health is active. Gunning Francis joined IU Health in 2023 from the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, where she was vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty since 2016. Before that, she served on the faculty at Eden Seminary in St. Louis. She also has served in pastoral positions for congregations in Georgia, Illinois and Ohio. She earned a doctorate of philosophy from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, a master of divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University and a bachelor’s in marketing from Hampton University. In 2021, Franklin College awarded Rev. Gunning Francis an honorary doctor of divinity degree.
Please RSVP your attendance online at mlk.iu.edu.
Virtual Toolkit Available
Indiana University is proud to offer a virtual toolkit to help community members and others celebrate Dr. King and learn how all of us, in big ways and small, can make a difference. The kit includes activities to promote reflection on Dr. King's life and legacy, family-friendly experiences, A Day On, Not A Day Off service opportunities and conference tools such as social media badges, Zoom backgrounds and more.
Educational Activities
Students, faculty, and others can also access several educational activities to learn more about Dr. King and his work. For example, you can watch Indiana University’s African American Choral Ensemble perform the gospel protest song and unity anthem of the Civil Rights Movement, We Shall Overcome. As you listen to the words, think about how you might use your voice to create a more just world.
You’ll also find a rare 1962 Martin Luther King Jr. interview and other educational materials and resources to help you learn, grow and reflect on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his message of unity for all.
A Day On, Not a Day Off
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
Dr. Martin Luther King first shared those words during a speech in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1957—today, they seem more relevant than ever. Observed each year on the third Monday in January as a day on, not a day off, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.
Here are just a few ideas to honor Dr. King and his teachings:
- Become a driver for Meals on Wheels to help older adults access nutritious meals.
- Donate your used books to neighborhood community centers or Little Free Libraries. Get the Little Free Library mobile app to find Little Free Libraries near you. It is available in the App Store for iOS devices or the Google Play Store for Android devices. Or, better still, start your own Little Free Library!
- Organize a healthy snack collection and distribute it to after-school programs.
- Host a sock and underwear drive for local family and homeless shelters to provide new and necessary garments to individuals pursuing stable housing.
- Collect beds and toys for shelter animals.
- Foster a shelter animal.
- Drop off a non-perishable donation to a local food bank in your area.
- Champion everyone’s civil rights by becoming an election worker or helping people register to vote.
Not sure where to start? To learn more about opportunities in your community, visit IU CORPS or your local city's official websites.