January 5, 2022
Connect to the Legacy of MLK
Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy on January 17, 2022.
This month, communities around the country will celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. For 36 years, MLK Day has been a federal holiday in the U.S. – the only one recognizing a Black American – marking Dr. King’s birthday and an opportunity to promote equal rights for all Americans.
Dr. King advocated for nonviolent resistance to protest injustice as a means of eliminating racial and other forms of oppression.
In 1964, a year after his famous “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. King became the youngest person at the time to receive Nobel Peace Prize.
The immense uncertainty and global tension of the past year, like the tumultuous year before it, has highlighted ongoing and glaring issues of inequality in America. The country is deeply divided on issues that negatively and disproportionately impact BIPOC communities – issues such as voting rights, health care, environmental conservation, and police reform.
UW & Community Events
You are encouraged to observe the MLK Day holiday in a way that is personally meaningful. *Note: this year there are no in-person Day of Service activities organized by UW. View the most up-to-date calendar of events at UW’s MLK Week page.
Extend Your Learning
Consider engaging with these resources using the framework of radical listening – listening fully and with an open mind in order to more deeply understand the perspective of others.
Support
Consider making a one-time gift or set up payroll deduction to a UWCFD nonprofit organization that supports enriching the Black experience and amplifying Black voices:
University of Washington Black Opportunity Fund (charity code 1482916): The University of Washington Black Opportunity Fund will invest in: Services and programs for health and academic success, including but not limited to Black student organizations, Graduate Opportunities and Minority Achievement Program GO-MAP, Brotherhood Initiative, and the Women’s Center.
Black Women’s Health Imperative (charity code 1482760): We target the most pressing health issues that affect Black women and girls in the U.S. through investments in evidence-based strategies, bold programs and advocacy outreach on health policies.
University of Washington Costco Diversity Scholarship (charity code 1481296): General support for the UW Diversity Scholars Program – an intensive effort by the University of Washington to increase the number of highly qualified underrepresented minority students.
University of Washington Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity EOP Fund for Excellence (charity code 0519565): The UW Educational Opportunity Program Fund provides support and resources for emergency scholarship support, EOP programming, orientation, and recognition events.
Martin Luther King Jr., Family Outreach Center (charity code 0315430): We exist to improve the quality of life for children, youth and families through an array of culturally responsive educational and social service programs.
