MLK Commemoration Week History
NAACP President Derrick Johnson speaks in the Kirkhof Center during a rescheduled presentation in March 2026.
For more than 40 years, the Laker community has benefited from a partnership among GVSU, Grand Rapids Community College and Davenport University that brings a national speaker to West Michigan during MLK Commemoration Week for presentations.
GVSU events continue on both the Valley and City campuses throughout the week, providing opportunities for students, faculty and staff to reflect on King's legacy and how it remains relevant today.
Last year's events at GVSU are detailed below, as is a list of previous speakers.
2026 Events
Severe weather in January canceled most planned campus events during MLK Commemoration Week.
Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, gave a presentation in March on King's legacy and recalled his participation as a member of a student NAACP chapter, when he learned he was having conversations with leaders he read about in books. Read the GVNext article about Johnson's visit.
Dar Mayweather ’07 and ’09, a leadership studies faculty member at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, gave a virtual presentation that connected aspects of King’s leadership to practical ways community members can impact their own communities. Read the GVNext article about Mayweather's presentation.
Erik Mendoza-Maldonado and Lesley Saavedra-Ornelas received scholarships to attend GVSU during a community event at Wealthy Theatre with (from left) co-chair Bobby Springer, President Philomena V. Mantella and Robert Shorty, vice president for People, Equity, and Culture.
Dar Mayweather ’07 and ’09 gives a virtual presentation.
Derrick Johnson speaks with Vice President Robert Shorty during a March presentation.
Previous speakers
|
Year |
Names
|
|---|---|
|
2025 |
LaTosha Brown, co-founder of several voter rights organizations |
|
2024 |
Melissa Harris-Perry, professor at at Wake Forest University Team Dream, National Senior Games participants TaRita Johnson, senior vice president at The Right Place |
|
2023 |
Eddie Glaude Jr., author and professor at Princeton University Jerry Wallace ’09, president of Danville Community College Mary Frances Berry, professor at the University of Pennsylvania and former chair of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission |
|
2022 |
Cheryl Brown Henderson, president of the Brown Foundation for Educational Equity, Excellence and Research Jamillah Ali-Joyce, daughter of boxer and activist Muhammad Ali |
|
2021 |
Yamice Alcindor, correspondent for PBS NewsHour |
|
2020 |
Yusef Salaam, politician and motivational speaker Cedric Taylor, associate professor at Central Michigan University |
|
2019 |
David Stovall, professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago Shannon Cohen ’99 and ’11, founder and principal of Shannon Cohen Inc. |
|
2018 |
April Reign, attorney and author Bree Newsome, filmmaker and artist |
|
2017 |
Kevin Powell, author and president of BK Nation Kimberlé Crenshaw, professor at UCLA and Columbia Law School |
|
2016 |
Touré, author and podcaster Patrisse Cullors, activist |
|
2015 |
Sybrina Fulton, founder of the Trayvon Martin Foundation Marc Lamont Hill, author and journalist |
|
2014 |
Chuck D, member of Public Enemy Jeff Johnson, journalist and author |
|
2013 |
Judge Glenda A. Hatchett Majora Carter, broadcaster and owner of consulting firm |