Martin Luther King Jr. Celebrations

Office of Institutional Equity & Diversity

1500 N. Warner St. #1019
Tacoma, WA 98416-1019
Howarth Hall, Room 217

253.879.2827

History at Puget Sound

The observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday has been a tradition at the University of Puget Sound since before it was established as a national holiday in 1986. Prior to the current series of distinguished speakers and celebrations in Kilworth Chapel, the Black Student Union (BSU) presented concerts by local performers and entertainers.

In 1988, the BSU observed the newly proclaimed holiday with a celebration dance, the proceeds of which benefited Disabled United Employment Services and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. Since 1989, the University has presented an annual event featuring presentations by students, administrators, and faculty, music from the Bethlehem Baptist and Mt. Zion Baptist choirs, and inspiring words from guest speakers, including Dr. Charles Mitchell, President, Seattle Central Community College; the Hon. Jack Tanner, Federal Court Judge; Dr. Joye Hardiman, Director, The Evergreen State College in Tacoma; Rev. Sam McKinney of Seattle’s Mt. Zion Baptist Church; late Professor Robert Ford, University of Puget Sound; King County Councilman Larry Gossett; and Rev. Dr. Leslie Braxton ‘83 of New Beginnings Church.

 

Previous event details

Join us for the 39th Annual University Of Puget Sound Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration!

The observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday has been a tradition at University of Puget Sound since before it was established as a national holiday in 1986. Please join us as we continue this tradition for the 39th year.

This year’s keynote speaker will be the Reverend Dr. Leslie Braxton ’83, our Spring 2025 Swope Endowed Lecturer. Reverend Braxton ’83 is the Senior Pastor at New Beginnings Christian Fellowship. His talk is entitled "Martin Luther King, Jr., A Model of Moral Leadership in an Immoral Empire."

In addition to Reverend Braxton’s address, the event will feature welcome remarks, the presentation of Puget Sound’s annual "Keep Living the Dream" Award, and a closing call to action by University Chaplain Reverend Dave Wright ’96. Following the program, all are welcome to attend a reception with Reverend Braxton in Kilworth Lounge. 

This event is SOLD OUT. Guests without tickets can view a live stream of the program in the overflow room in Wheelock Student Center, Upper Marshall Hall, or remotely via pugetsound.edu/schneebecklive

The event is hosted by the Office of Institutional Equity & Diversity in collaboration with the Swope Endowed Lectures. The lectures are made possible by an endowment established in honor of Puget Sound alumna Jane Hammer Swope ’42. The lectures invite significant speakers to campus to help the Puget Sound community engage with themes of faith, ethics, values, or religion in society. 

MLK Celebration & Swope Lecture

38th Annual University of Puget Sound Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

All are invited to attend the University of Puget Sound’s 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Thursday, January 18, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in Kilworth Memorial Chapel.

Join us for a celebration featuring Keynote speaker Dr. Fred Johnson III. This celebration is co-sponsored by the Office of Intercultural Engagement, Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity, and the Swope Lectures.

MLK Celebration & Swope Lecture

37th Annual University of Puget Sound Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

All are invited to attend the University of Puget Sound’s 37th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. in Kilworth Memorial Chapel.  

Join us for a celebration featuring Emmy-nominated poet and advocate for equity, Christian Paige. This celebration is co-sponsored by the Office of Intercultural Engagement, Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity, and the Catharine Gould Chism Fund for the Humanities.

MLK Day poster

36th Annual University of Puget Sound Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

All are invited to attend the University of Puget Sound’s 36th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.   Due to heightened Covid precautions we will be hosting this event via webinar. 

Our program will honor and highlight the life and work of local legend Nettie J. Asberry and her fight for civil rights in Tacoma and beyond.  We will be featuring speakers from the Washington State Historical Society, The Nettie J. Homesite Project, and the Tacoma City Association of Colored Women’s Clubs.

Sponsored by Puget Sound’s Office of Intercultural Engagement, Tacoma City Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Inc., Historic Tacoma, and the Washington State Historical Society.

MLK Celebration 2022 poster