To honor the life and legacy of famed civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., Penn State and downtown State College are collaborating with various organizations to pay homage to the groundbreaking activist.

Celebrated this year on Monday, January 15, Martin Luther King Jr. Day marks the birthday of King and encourages citizens to promote social change and racial equality. Despite the holiday only lasting a day, the MLK festivities continue throughout the rest of January.

On-Campus Day of Service: January 15 — 10 a.m. To 4 p.m.

Hosted by the student leadership council, volunteers are encouraged to participate in service projects across campus hosted by various organizations such as A Soldier’s Hands, Rise Against Hunger, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Committee.

Voter Registration Tables: January 15 — 10 a.m. To 4 p.m.

PSU Votes encourages engaged citizens to participate in the important duty of voting in local, state, and national elections. To aid in the registration process, informational booths will be located in the HUB for those planning on voting or those curious about their registration status.

49th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Banquet: January 15 — 4:30 p.m. To 8 p.m.

In celebration of King’s vision, Penn State’s Forum on Black Affairs (FOBA) will host a banquet in the Bryce Jordan Center. The theme is “The Movement Continues: Embracing MLK’s Dream of a Better World for All.” The banquet will feature a buffet dinner, cash bar, performances, and recognition of the 2024 FOBA Humanitarian Award and scholarship winners.

Tickets can be purchased online on a first-come, first-served basis.

National Day of Racial Healing: January 16 — 11:30 a.m. To 1:30 p.m.

Hosted in the community room of the State College Municipal Building, the event is the first part of a two-part series event, the latter to be held in February. There will be conversations centered around racial barriers and lunch will be provided.

Evening Celebration With Guest Speaker Soledad O’Brien: January 16 — 7 p.m.

An outspoken news anchor, producer, documentarian, and award-winning journalist, Soledad O’Brien hopes to bring a new perspective to current events and inspire action in the community. The event will take place in Heritage Hall in the HUB.

Peace March: January 17 — 2 p.m.

Meeting in Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, the Paul Robeson Cultural Center and State College Borough will join together to celebrate and support the Penn State students and the greater State College community. Participants will march, carrying King’s legacy to the HUB’s Lion’s Lair, where they will be met with an uplifting celebration of performance, solidarity, and community.

Reservations are requested but not required.

“Waste and Labor” Film Screening: January 17 — 7 p.m.

Hosted online and open to all campuses, Penn State Sustainability and the Center for Global Workers’ Rights will screen multiple short films discussing the intersections of waste and labor around the world. This pays homage to King who, just weeks before his assassination, traveled to Memphis to support a months-long strike by sanitation workers.

Registration is required.

Poetry, Prose, & Performance Night: January 18 — 6 p.m.

In celebration of King, artists, poets, and members of the community are encouraged to participate through the compelling power of spoken word. Through this event, students and staff pair up with a poet to perform in honor of King. Located in HUB 008, participants are encouraged to watch, listen, and celebrate.

A Choral Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: January 20 — 4 p.m.

Four choirs combine in Penn State’s own Eisenhower Auditorium to showcase a series of hymns and protest songs. Made up of the Howard Gospel Choir of Howard University, Penn State choirs Essence of Joy, Essence 2 Ltd., and the State College Area High School Mastersingers, the songs aim to uplift and celebrate King. Outside of the main event, various Penn State dance groups will perform, too.

Tickets for the event can be purchased here.

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You can visit this release for more information and a list of events at other Penn State campuses.