Wichita State University will celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a series of events on campus and throughout the city.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday honors a man who brought hope and healing to America. He taught us timeless values — the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his leadership. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit.

This monthlong celebration begins Thursday, Jan. 17, and will last until Thursday, Jan. 24, through citywide collaboration with organizations such as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., The Kansas African American Museum, Christian Faith Centre, and the Greater Wichita Ministerial League.

On Saturday, Jan. 19, the university will participate in the citywide Martin Luther King Parade and encourages everyone to walk in the parade wearing their department or organization shirts. This parade begins at 10 a.m., starting at the Christian Faith Centre, 1130 S. Broadway, leading up to Chester I. Lewis Reflection Square Park, 205 E. Douglas Ave.

The celebration continues on Monday, Jan. 21, with WSU co-sponsoring with the Greater Wichita Ministerial League to host the 2019 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Worship Celebration, beginning at noon at the Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex, 5015 E. 29th St. N. This year’s theme is “#UNITY – Building Unity in our Community… Transforming Neighborhoods into Brotherhoods by Faith.”

Later that week, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will host its 11th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Commemoration at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, in the Rhatigan Student Center Beggs Ballroom, where the 2019 Drum Major Award recipient will be recognized. This award is presented to a university administrator, faculty, staff or student who seeks greatness, but does so through service and love.

A majority of the events are free and open to the public. A compiled guide of celebrations for this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day can be accessed at http://www.wichita.edu/MLK.

For more information, contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 316-978-3034 or diversity@wichita.edu.

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The mission of Wichita State University is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good. Wichita State is a doctoral research university enrolling nearly 15,000 students and offering 59 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas of study in seven undergraduate colleges. The Graduate School offers 45 master's and 12 doctoral degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas. Wichita State's Innovation Campus is an interconnected community of partnership buildings, laboratories and mixed-use areas where students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs and businesses have access to the university's vast resources and technology. For more information, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wichitastate and Facebook at www.facebook.com/wichita.state.