On Thursday, January 12, 2023 the 43rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Unity Dinner will take place at the Kellogg Center Hotel & Conference Center.

Community was extremely important to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. During his short lifetime of 39 years, he came to understand and appreciate the interrelatedness of all humanity. Dr. King would repeatedly say in speeches and writings that, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly."

Dr. LeConte Dill, an Associate Professor at MSU's Department of African American and African Studies, will be our featured keynote speaker. A scholar, educator, and poet, Dr. Dill, guided by Black Feminist epistemologies and using qualitative and arts-based research methods, has a commitment toward transdisciplinary, community-accountable scholarship. Her work focuses on the safety, resilience, and wellness strategies of urban Black girls and other youth of color.

In addition to the great food provided by Chef Michael Clyne and his team and the ambiance crafted by the amazing Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center staff, there will be an MSU student sharing student keynote remarks, a performance by the MSU's Transforming Theater Ensemble, a talented student singing the Black National Anthem and other artistic performances. There will also be remarks by Dr. Teresa Woodruff, MSU's Interim President, and Dr. Jabbar Bennett, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at MSU.

This is a free event, and pre-registration is required. Seating is limited, and this form will automatically turn off when capacity has been reached. Everyone who makes reservations should receive an email confirmation when they complete this form.