December 5, 2025
Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), Grand Valley State University (GVSU) and Davenport University (DU) proudly announce the 40th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration: A Call to Courageous Community Action. This landmark event, marking four decades of tri-campus partnership, will move beyond mere commemoration to serve as a powerful launchpad for purposeful engagement and positive change in West Michigan.
The celebration will be held on Monday, Jan.19, 2026, from 6-9 p.m. at the historic Wealthy Theater in Grand Rapids.
Inspired by the King Center's 2026 theme, Mission Possible II: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way, this year’s focus is a dynamic Community Conversation designed to point the community boldly forward. The conversation will center on translating this powerful national theme into tangible action within the local community, focusing on collaboration, equity and sustainable change.
“For 40 years, this tri-campus collaboration has exemplified a shared commitment to Dr. King's legacy,” said Dr. Nygil Likely, GRCC’s vice president for people, culture and equity. “This anniversary is not just a look back, but a clear call to action for every neighbor, leader, student and family to define their legacy by committing to service and standing up for justice, equality and peace.”
The event will issue a clear call to action, rooted in Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community.
Actively Engage in Bringing People Together: Participants will learn practical strategies for bridging divides, fostering genuine dialogue, and strengthening the bonds of our diverse community, choosing community over chaos.
Advocate in a Non-Violent Way: The conversation will explore Kingian Nonviolence — not as passive resistance, but as a courageous, disciplined and love-centered methodology for confronting injustice and creating systemic change.
The panel discussion will feature thought leaders, who will provide invaluable perspective to this critical dialogue.
This longstanding partnership between GRCC, GVSU and Davenport University has provided a vital platform for thoughtful reflection, education and action around contemporary civil rights issues for decades, bringing together students, faculty and the broader West Michigan community to embody the spirit of unity and progress that Dr. King championed.
Event Details
- What: 40th Annual MLK Celebration: A Call to Courageous Community Action
- When: Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, 6-9 p.m.
- Where: Wealthy Theater, Grand Rapids
- Focus: Community Conversation on Unity, Action, and Kingian Nonviolence