This event has been postponed due to inclement weather. The new date will be posted here when it becomes available. 

Davenport University partners with Grand Valley State University and Grand Rapids Community College on the community-wide MLK day celebration on Jan. 19. Davenport will also host an event at its W.A. Lettinga Grand Rapids Campus on Jan. 20 (more details to come).

The article below was provide by GRCC. 

Davenport University (DU), Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) and Grand Valley
State University (GVSU) proudly announce the 40th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Celebration: A Call to Courageous Community Action. This landmark event, marking four
decades of tri-campus partnership, will move beyond mere commemoration to serve as a
powerful launchpad for purposeful engagement and positive change in West Michigan.

The celebration will be held on Monday, January 19, 2026, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the historic
Wealthy Theater in Grand Rapids.

Inspired by the King Center’s 2026 theme, Mission Possible II: Building Community, Uniting a
Nation the Nonviolent Way, this year’s focus is a dynamic Community Conversation designed
to point the community boldly forward. The conversation will center on translating this
powerful national theme into tangible action within the local community, focusing on
collaboration, equity and sustainable change.

“For 40 years, this tri-campus collaboration has exemplified a shared commitment to Dr. King’s
legacy,” said Dr. Nygil Likely, GRCC’s vice president for people, culture and equity. “This
anniversary is not just a look back, but a clear call to action for every neighbor, leader, student
and family to define their legacy by committing to service and standing up for justice, equality
and peace.”

The event will issue a clear call to action, rooted in Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community.

• Actively Engage in Bringing People Together: Participants will learn practical strategies
  for bridging divides, fostering genuine dialogue, and strengthening the bonds of our
  diverse community, choosing community over chaos.
• Advocate in a Non-Violent Way: The conversation will explore Kingian Nonviolence —
  not as passive resistance, but as a courageous, disciplined and love-centered
  methodology for confronting injustice and creating systemic change.

The panel discussion will feature thought leaders, who will provide invaluable perspective to
this critical dialogue.

This longstanding partnership between GRCC, GVSU and Davenport University has provided a
vital platform for thoughtful reflection, education and action around contemporary civil rights issues for decades, bringing together students, faculty and the broader West Michigan community to embody the spirit of unity and progress that Dr. King championed.