Arcadia University will celebrate and honor the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a variety of events on campus and in the community between Jan. 14 and Jan. 19, 2024. 

This year’s theme is ‘Connected as One: Whatever Affects One Directly Affects All Indirectly.’ It was inspired by Dr. King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail.”

In the letter, Dr. King wrote that “whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.” As a united community at Arcadia, we must all be willing to fight against injustice because we are all connected.

The 2024 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Committee of the Office of Access, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion has organized a series of events to honor the legacy of Dr. King. Members of the Arcadia community are invited to participate and volunteer throughout the week. 

Sunday, January 14: MLK Day of Learning

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church

654 N. Easton Road, Glenside

1:30 p.m.

RSVP Here

Eastern MontCo Interfaith Coalition is hosting a day of learning with the theme of ‘Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?’ All Arcadia students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend the event. 

January 14-22: Food Drive for Willow Grove Baptist Church

The Arcadia community is encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items at donation boxes in Taylor Hall, Landman Library, Kuch Center, Commons, Castle lobby, Oak Summit B lobby, and home games for basketball, ice hockey, swimming and volleyball. Canned goods, peanut butter, jelly, crackers, beans, rice, and toiletries (bar soap, tooth brush, tooth paste etc.) will be accepted.

Monday, January 15: Day of Service Volunteer Event

The Chat and Dining Hall Room 103: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Students, faculty, and staff are invited to design cards for elementary aged students. The cards will be delivered to Cradles to Crayons Giving Factory as part of their efforts to give away 75,000 backpacks to children in need. 

Wednesday, January 17: Trivia, Letter Writing, and Card Making at the Welcome Back Bash

Commons Great Room: 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Test your Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. knowledge at the trivia table during the Welcome Back Bash. There will be a table for legislative letter writing. Students will also have the chance to design cards for elementary aged students that will be delivered to Cradles to Crayons Giving Factory. 

January 17-20: Athletics Events Honor MLK

The men’s basketball, men’s & women’s ice hockey, men’s & women’s swimming, and men’s volleyball teams have selected various speeches by Dr. King to spotlight throughout the week. The Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice And Sing,” will be played at the start of each game.

Thursday, January 18: Voter Registration Fun Til One

The Chat: Noon – 1 p.m.

Join the Office of Civic and Global Engagement during this Fun Til One. The League of Women Voters will be available to assist with registering students to vote. 

Thursday, January 18: The Lived Experience of Margaret Howard Taylor as a Student Activist During the Civil Rights Movement

Commons Great Room 5 – 6:30 p.m.

This engaging community event will feature keynote speaker, Ms. Margaret Howard Taylor, a living legend. Ms. Taylor was a student at Shaw University and participated in sit-ins and was jailed for her peaceful protest during the height of the civil rights movement. During the event, Ms. Taylor will be interviewed by Dr. Angela McNeil. Following the interview, students will showcase their art, poetry, or spoken word that reflect on the Letter from Birmingham Jail and align with Arcadia’s Lived Values, CABR goals and initiatives.

If you have any questions please send them to aedi@arcadia.edu

Committee Members:

Barry Dear, Men’s and Women’s Head Golf Coach, Athletics

Brian Granata, Executive Director of Athletics & Recreation, Athletics

Emily Horowitz, Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications, MarCom

Jennifer McCaffrey, Associate Director for Student Employment Office of Career Education

Oliver Moe, Director of Student-Athlete Success & Leadership, Athletics

Kirsten O’Malley, Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach, Athletics

Jaisy Omollo, Assistant Director of Civic and Global Engagement 

Staci Jo Palek, Assistant Director of Campus Life/Orientation, Campus Life  

Heather Sherman, Administrative Assistant, Computer Science & Math and Chemistry & Physics

Christine Storch, Director of Student Engagement, Campus Life

Bre Taylor, MPH, Program Support Specialist, Physical Therapy

Lisa M. Ware, Assist. Dir. Financial Aid, Financial Aid

Committee Chair

Jullette Wilkins, Senior Administrative Assistant, Access, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Contributor

Dr. Angela S. McNeil, Assistant Vice President, Access, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Kerri Hearn, Director of Alumni Engagement and Programming, University Advancement

Amy Cruz, Next Steps Team Leader, Division of Civic & Global Engagement