UAFS partners with MLK Commission on ‘Be the Change You Want to See’ events

The River Valley Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, in partnership with the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, has a slate of events scheduled Jan. 18-23 to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The theme for this year’s programming is “Be the Change You Want to See,” which organizers says underscores the importance of personal responsibility in continuing Dr. King’s mission of equality and justice.

“Commemorating MLK Day falls right in line with the UAFS Democracy Project’s campus wide goal of fostering civic engagement among our students,” said Williams Yamkam, UAFS associate professor who has worked with students to coordinate the UAFS events.

The week-long slate of events will feature a scholarship banquet, an ecumenical service, a community breakfast, the return of the downtown parade and a series of educational lectures on the UAFS campus.

“Each year, a day is identified for us to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a man who fought for the rights and dignity of everyone. However, this day of celebration should also serve as an important reaffirmation of our responsibility and commitment to making the future better for everyone. Thus, our theme – Be the Change You Want to See,” Dr. Carolyn Mosley, president of the River Valley Dr. MLK Jr. Commission, noted in a statement.

The week-long programming will begin Saturday (Jan. 18) with the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Banquet at UAFS. Dr. Chris Jones will deliver the keynote speech.

Jones, an Arkansas native, was the first African American major party nominee for Arkansas governor in 2022. Born in Pine Bluff, Jones attended Morehouse College, earning dual degrees in physics and math before advancing to MIT, where he completed two master’s degrees in nuclear engineering and technology and policy, as well as a Ph.D. in urban planning.

Jones’ career has ranged from teaching high school math to leading community organizations, including the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative in Boston. He also directed the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, fostering creativity and entrepreneurship in his home state. An ordained minister, Jones lives in Little Rock with his wife, Dr. Jerrilyn Jones, a doctor of emergency medicine.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Ecumenical Service will be at 6 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 19)  at Saint James Missionary Baptist Church, 4916 High St. The Rev. William L. Robinson of First Baptist Church in North Little Rock will deliver the evening’s message.

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Breakfast will begin at 7 a.m. Jan. 20 in the Reynolds Room at UAFS. The free event will feature remarks by Marsalis Weatherspoon, president of the NAACP Hot Springs branch. Weatherspoon is a musician, educator, and public servant from Hot Spring. As president of the NAACP Hot Springs branch, Weatherspoon has spearheaded initiatives to promote equity and social justice across the state and nation. He is also the first Arkansan to complete the NextGen Young Professional Leadership Program.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade will start at 11 a.m. Jan. 20 at Sixth Street and Garrison Avenue in downtown Fort Smith.

UAFS will host panel discussions, lectures, and a Civil Rights display at the Boreham Library throughout the week.

“Taking a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.‘s gives our students and the campus community many opportunities to know about and hopefully emulate some of the values that Dr. King fought for and died for. That’s one of the reasons why we go beyond MLK Day and commemorate Dr. King’s legacy throughout the week,” Yamkam said.

The UAFS Campus and Community Engagement office will host a peanut butter drive, benefitting the River Valley Regional Food Bank.

Link here for more information and to reserve tickets.