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National, community leaders highlight events during MLK Commemoration Week

BY Michele Coffill

Jan 12, 2026

The GVSU community will reflect on the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during a week of activities, January 19-24, in Grand Rapids and on its campuses.

A new West Michigan community event kicks off the week on January 19, the federal holiday recognizing King's birthday.

The 40th Annual MLK Celebration: A Call to Courageous Community Action will begin at 6 p.m. at Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy Street SE in Grand Rapids. The event is free and open to the public. It will feature artistic performances, a panel discussion and the presentation of college scholarships for local students.

Derrick Johnson in dark suit, arms crossed
Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, will give a keynote address January 20 in the Kirkhof Center, beginning at 10 a.m.

A longstanding partnership among GVSU, Davenport University and Grand Rapids Community College has made it possible for Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, to visit West Michigan and deliver messages about how King continues to impact and inspire members of the nation's largest civil rights organization. 

Johnson will kick off GVSU's MLK Commemoration Week on Tuesday, January 20, beginning at 10 a.m. in the Kirkhof Center, Grand River Room. President Philomena V. Mantella will facilitate a conversation with Johnson. The event will be live-streamed. Click here to join the meeting and watch the presentation. 

A native of Detroit, Johnson has served as NAACP president since 2017. Prior to that, he was the vice chair of the NAACP National Board of Directors and state president for the Mississippi State Conference NAACP. A longstanding leader, Johnson has helped guide the NAACP through a period of re-envisioning and reinvigoration. Johnson attended Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi, and earned a juris doctorate from the South Texas College of Law in Houston.

Robert Shorty, vice president for People, Equity, and Culture, said Johnson's presentation and the week's other events present opportunities for collective Laker impact and action. His division is leading the commemoration week activities.

"Dr. King’s beloved community is built daily through our own actions," Shorty said. "This week is a call to every Laker to recognize that together, we have the power to bridge divides. 

"While we learn from national leaders like Derrick Johnson, the true catalyst for progress is the courageous ways we show up for one another. I invite you to engage in these conversations and ignite your individual power to turn reflection into collective impact."

All GVSU campus events continue through January 24 and are detailed on the MLK website.

Jan. 21: Silent March, Keynote Speaker

Dar Mayweather standing in front of chalkboard
Dar Mayweather '07 and '09 will give an address on January 21 in the Kirkhof Center, following a silent march around campus.

Organizers will lead a silent march beginning at 4 p.m. outside of Zumberge Hall. Participants will walk through the Valley Campus and end at the Kirkhof Center in time for a presentation by Dar Mayweather '07 and '09 that will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Grand River Room. That event will be live-streamed. Click here to join the meeting and watch the presentation.

Mayweather is a leadership studies faculty member at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. In that role, Mayweather empowers college students to identify their unique talents and articulate those strengths to industry leaders, ensuring they secure jobs or graduate school placements before graduation. 

In 2016, Mayweather founded Good Mayweather Consulting LLC and the #doingthegoodwork brand to channel his passion for speaking and curriculum development. He earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's degree in education from GVSU, followed by a doctorate in educational leadership from Eastern Michigan University.

Jan. 22: King In Conversation: The Spiritualities of Non-Violence

The Kaufman Interfaith Institute will host a dinner and panel discussion focused on the spiritual frameworks for nonviolent resistance that influenced King or were influenced by him. Panelists are Carolyn White, Elliot Ratzman and Gail Presbey. Joe Jones will serve as moderator. RSVP for the event online and learn more details about the panelists.

Jan. 24: MLK Day of Solidarity and Service

This annual event is coordinated by the Office of Student Life - Civic Engagement. Hundreds of students are expected to participate in the event that begins at 8 a.m. Damon Arnold, motivational speaker and GVSU associate athletic director, will give remarks before students board buses to volunteer at West Michigan nonprofit sites. Students can RSVP for the event. The registration deadline is January 14 or until filled.

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