Community members gathered at Grand Rapids’ Fountain Street Church on March 27 to honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and reflect on his life and legacy. The 39th Annual Commemoration was scheduled for January 20, but was rescheduled due to inclement weather.

This special event celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. through powerful music, a keynote address and the announcement of the annual Inherit the Dream Scholarship recipients.

This year’s keynote speaker was LaTosha Brown, a nationally recognized expert in Black women’s empowerment and philanthropy and Black voting rights and suppression.

Brown spoke about humanity and the need to create opportunities that can change lives. She asked the audience to envision an America without racism and where everyone felt valued and their humanity respected.

“Think beyond being a citizen of this nation,” Brown said. “Think of yourselves as founders of a new nation, an America where all are welcome and have opportunities. The transformation we want to see is possible, but it will require us to be different. This is what Dr. King called on us to do.”

The winner of Davenport’s Inherit the Dream scholarship was also announced. This year’s winner, Kenneil Tucker, from Okemos High School, looks forward to studying business management at Davenport and joining the swim and dive team.

Brown was also the featured guest at Davenport’s annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration at its W.A. Lettinga Grand Rapids Campus. The event featured a Q&A-style conversation between Brown and Richard J. Pappas, Ed.D., Davenport University president.

Brown challenged the audience to envision ways to positively impact their communities and show care for their neighbors. She emphasized Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community and encouraged everyone to be a source of hope, love and respect. 

One of the celebration’s highlights was the announcement of the annual MLK Day essay contest winners. This year’s theme focused on Dr. King’s dedication to justice and equality through nonviolence. The first-place recipient was Autumn Wakefield, a sophomore marketing student, and the second-place recipient was Ella Chatfield, a first-year finance student. 

The event concluded with a silent march around campus, which served as a powerful reminder of nonviolent action while supporting those who continue to struggle for justice and equality.