Remembering the Dream: UC Celebrates Dr. King

The University of Cincinnati honors civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King with events that celebrate his legacy. UC Health and UC College of Medicine host their annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration Friday, Jan. 13.

The African American Cultural and Resource Center will host and co-sponsor a series of events Jan. 16-20. Themed “Remember the Dream Week,” this concept originated from the values of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The all-encompassing goal is to provide several vehicles of interactivity to have conversations around social justice. While aiming to show the relevancy of the culture of King’s speech in our present society, this week is slated to deliver opportunities for the campus community to reflect upon the dynamics of the speech. The AACRC is also sponsoring several events during 

Kuamka Week

 through Jan. 14. 

Remembering the Dream Week is co-sponsored by Ethnic Programs and Services, The College of Education, Criminal Justice, & Human Services, Student Activities & Leadership Development, The LGBTQ Center, The Division of Experience-Based Learning & Career Education, The Office of Equity & Inclusion, PAC, the LAMBDA Society and the Women’s Center.

FRIDAY, JAN. 13
UC Health and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine will host the 44th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 13 in Kresge Auditorium, Medical Sciences Building. The program will feature a keynote presentation by the Honorable Fanon A. Rucker, Hamilton County municipal court judge, along with live music from the UC African American Cultural and Resource Center Choir and Rockdale Academy Choir. Dolores Lindsay, founder, president and CEO of The Healthcare Connection, will receive a humanitarian award, while the Baptist Ministers Conference of Cincinnati will receive special recognition. Pastor Ennis F. Tait of the Church of the Living God and Kyla Woods, journalist with WLWT Channel 5, are also part of the celebration. Find more details here.

MONDAY, JAN. 16
Celebrate what would have been Dr. King's 88th birthday during the MLK Online Birthday Bash. Birthday wishes and reflections of Dr. King’s speech can be posted on the MLK birthday Facebook page here.

Hoxworth Blood Center, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority host the annual MLK Day Blood Drive Monday. The drive takes place 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Freedom Center downtown. All donors will receive a free ticket to the Rosa Parks Experience, a new virtual exhibit commemorating Rosa Parks’ historic demonstration. Read more here.

TUESDAY, JAN. 17
Enjoy coffee, donuts and wristbands to promote MLK week From 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday at the CRC Breezeway. The AACRC will present MLK tribute program “Remembering the Dream: Then and Now,” featuring Dr. Ericka King-Betts as keynote, 5-6:15 p.m. Tuesday.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 18
The AACRC hosts a social justice panel featuring campus and community members dialoguing about the dynamics of social justice from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, JAN. 19
In TUC Great Hall Thursday, student-submitted work and live performances will be showcased and judged for two (2) $250 scholarship awards at the Expression Showcase.

FRIDAY, JAN. 20
MLK Dream Week reflections — video and photo captions of the week’s programming — will be displayed Friday at the AACRC.

ABOUT THE HOLIDAY
This year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be held on Monday, Jan. 16. UC offices will be closed in observance of the holiday.

Legislation creating Martin Luther King Jr. Day was passed in 1983 in honor of the late civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner. The federal holiday was first observed in 1986. It is annually held on the third Monday of January to be near King's birthday, Jan. 15.

King was born in 1929 in Atlanta. He was 39 when he was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn. King would have turned 88 this year.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AT UC
The University of Cincinnati embraces diversity and inclusion as core values that empower individuals to transform their lives and achieve their highest potential. Find out more about UC's commitment to diversity here.

*If your organization is hosting an MLK Day event that you wish to add to this schedule, please contact jacqueline.kern@uc.edu.