Born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist minister, civil-rights activist, and an advocate for race relations in the United States. Through King's activism and inspirational speeches, he played an essential role in ending the legal segregation of African-American citizens in the U.S., as well as spurring the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, among several other honors. King was assassinated in April 1968 and continues to be remembered as one of the most influential and inspirational African-American leaders in history.

A group of students are singing the black national anthem with a UMass Lowell logo backdrop.

MLK Jr. Celebration: January 24, 2024

At UMass Lowell (UML), we celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. through events centered on community action, engagement and social justice awareness. This week occurs at the end of January leading into Black History Month in February.

Community Connections Service Fair and Sustainability Winter Market : University Crossing Atrium;

Time: 1-4 p.m.

Learn about ways to serve in your community. Connect with local non-profits and service organizations. Try samples and take the opportunity to purchase from immigrant businesses in Lowell. Learn about food injustice happening in the world today and many ways to get involved in the community.

This is also a drop-off opportunity for the winter clothing drive.

A graduate student named Anna Kauadio shares keynote thoughts about her immigration experience.

Elevating Voices: Campus Celebration: University Crossing 2nd Floor, Moloney Hall

Time: 4:30-5:30 p.m.

As part of the 2024 Dr. MLK Jr. Building Wide Immersive experience, the 4:30 p.m. session focuses on this year's theme, "Elevating Voices." Alumna Anna Kauadio, ’23, will share keynote thoughts about her immigration experience. There will also be student-created art, video, expression and performances and the reveal of the student recipients of the Dr. MLK Jr. Unsung Hero award.

This session will surely inspire all to engage throughout all of University Crossing. 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Continuing the Conversation: UCrossing, 3rd Floor, Social Justice Center UCrossing 370, and UCrossing LGBTQ+ Resource Center UCC 380

Time: 5:30-7 p.m.

Continue the conversation of Dr. MLK Jr.’s legacy with us while elevating your own voice with dialogues, exhibits and interactive activities on important topics such as radical self-care, intersectionality, trivia and more.

13th MLK Distinguished Service Awards - Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holding a Nobel Peace prize. In 1964 Martin Luther King, Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his dynamic leadership of the Civil Rights movement and steadfast commitment to achieving racial justice through nonviolent action.

Each year, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Service Awards are presented to University of Massachusetts-Lowell faculty, staff, students, and community leaders. These awards honor the contributions of individuals who have demonstrated a high level of commitment to social change, service, and community engagement.

Nominees should exemplify the dream, vision and work of late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Submit a MLK Distinguished Service Awards nomination

MLK 2024 Theme: “Elevating Voices”

UMass Lowell (UML) Library: MLK LibGuide: A digital resource that provides online access to texts, images, and audio/video files showcasing Dr. King’s legacy, civil rights movement, and more.

For more information or help with RSVPing to these events, please email us by email: Multicultural_Affairs@uml.edu.


"No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence."

– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

  • Image of Yahayra Michel-Smith

    Yahayra Michel - Assistant Teaching Professor, RHSA Peer Leader Mentor, receiving her faculty-staff award for her time over the past two years to mentor first-generation students in the River Hawk Scholars Academy in various capacities.

    MLK 2021 - Distinguished Service Awards

    Faculty/Staff: Yahayra Michel

    Yahayra has graciously volunteered their time over the past two years to mentor first-generation students in the River Hawk Scholars Academy in various capacities. This is a significant time and energy commitment that has made a major impact on the students in our program and on all of us who collaborate on RHSA. She serves as part of the leadership team and mentors Peer Leaders, student mentors who guide RHSA first-year students, providing thoughtful insight and perspective as first-gen student from an immigrant background and a veteran of the U.S. military. Yahayra has plenty on her plate as a professor and devoted mother and still gives of themselves to first-gen students. She regularly speaks truth to power and advocates for justice and equity within our program and beyond. Fighting with quiet, steely fortitude for our students' experiences and identities to be honored. Furthermore, she creates opportunities for our first-generation student leaders to conduct research, supports first-year Criminal Justice majors as an RHSA Faculty Advocate, and serves on the advisory board for the Greeley Peace Scholar program. Yahayra seeks to provide equal education and opportunities to students who have been historically and systemically deprived of them.& Students in RHSA look to them as a role model for someone who has earned a position of power and uses that power to fight, every day, for justice in their teaching, research, and mentorship.

    MLK Student Winner 2021 - Pictured on the left, Benedicta Agyemang-Brantuo - Honors Chemistry major on the pre-med track, minoring in public health awarded for her demonstration in leadership and has committed to social change, service and community engagement in various ways.

    Pictured on the left, Benedicta Agyemang-Brantuo - Honors Chemistry major on the pre-med track, minoring in public health awarded for her demonstration in leadership and has committed to social change, service and community engagement in various ways.

    Student: Benedicta Agyemang-Brantuo

    Benedicta has demonstrated leadership and has committed to social change, service and community engagement in many ways. Inspired by the quote of Martin Luther King, Jr. which states that " of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane", this nominee created a club called Advocates of Health Equity for Minorities which not only serve as a club, but a community for minorities to have meetings and events which will advocate for good health and sound mind for underrepresented populations. Recently, Benedicta hosted an event where she invited two physicians for a panel. These physicians talked about how it feels to be a minority in the health field and other tips on how to survive undergraduate school academically. She is also a Senator for Student Government, an LLC mentor, and participated in the difference maker challenge and attempted to provide transportation for pregnant women who are addicted to opioids in Lowell. Currently, Benedicta is an ambassador for the Kennedy College of Sciences where they answer questions that prospective students might have during an open house.

  • UMass Lowell Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Week

    All videos held within this tab shows all previous collaborations that were done with our office.


    Enjoy this video highlighting previous collaborations from 2017 that produced the art featured during our Annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Distinguished Service Awards Dinners!

    This collaboration was from 2018: the 2018 MLK Awards, Refuge Lowell art project.

    2019 was the year we had art collaborations that were put out on displays for attendees to look at during the event.

    Watch our 2016 community collaboration with Murkland Elementary: Lenses of Civil Right: Intersections of Struggle and Progress.

Questions?

Contact the Coordinator of Multicultural Affairs, Stephanie Garcia, by email at: Stephanie_Garcia@uml.edu.

To see pictures from our 2020 MLK ceremony, please visit our Facebook page.