Honoring the Dream and Vision
Monday, January 15, 2024, marks the 41st anniversary of the first observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a U.S. federal holiday. Each year Georgia State University honors The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and work with numerous activities in January. Campus events feature lectures, discussions, celebration, and community service opportunities that reflect his dream and vision for civil rights and social justice.
The university has established this page to provide a central location for events across the institution's different colleges, schools, departments and other units; along with highlighted external events in the communities that Georgia State's campuses call home.
GSU & You: Share Your Events for MLK '24
We'll be posting event information below as it becomes available. As we prepare for MLK '24, if your unit or department has an MLK event, we'd love to share it! Make sure to click here for our submission form!
Share for Our Community Calendar Section for MLK '24
If you are a member of a non-profit community organization or are a representative of a county/city government in the metropolitan Atlanta area with an event you'd like to share for our community calendar at the bottom of the page, please let us know! Contact the Belonging@GSU communications team at [email protected] with your details.
#GSUMLK24
Commemoration Events
The King Center Beloved Community Global Summit
Wednesday, Jan. 10, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The Curve, Library South
Sponsored by The King Center
Georgia State University is a satellite location for this exciting event presented by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Non-Violence and Social Change.
The 2024 Summit will include panel discussions, interviews, 10–15-minute Summit talks, and innovative video presentations; all focused on examining and arriving at solutions about how we can shift the cultural climate in various areas of society. Guest influencers, artists, civic leaders, activists and concerned global community members will discuss and share action steps for shifting individually and internally, collectively and civically and relationally and restoratively.
Dream Big Book Drive: Day of Service
Monday, Jan. 15, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Student Center East Ballrooms
Sponsored by the Office of Civic Engagement
Did you know that only 1 in 300 students in low-income areas across the Atlanta Metro Region have regular access to books at home? Georgia State is celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King's legacy by hosting a Dream Big Book Drive! Donate gently used children's books (of any reading level). Your donation will go a long way towards building a solid reading foundation for many of these students.
Donations are accepted at the Student Life Office on all GSU campuses. On the 15th, we will need volunteers to clean, repair, sort by reading level, organize and box the donated books for distribution. We need lots of volunteers to make sure our books are ready to go to the homes of little Panthers, so sign up on GivePulse!
Vision Board Party
Tuesday, Jan. 16, 4 - 6 p.m.
Student Center East Ballrooms
Sponsored by the Multicultural Center & Spotlight Programs Board
Come set your intentions for the semester by creating a vision board showing what YOU dream of for your future. Materials, snacks, music and a special performance are all provided.
MLK on Leadership: Lunch and Learn
Wednesday, Jan. 17, 12 - 1:30 p.m.
Student Center West, 460 & 462
Sponsored by Leadership Programs
Experience an engaging panel discussion with leaders impacted by Dr. King's legacy! This discussion will focus on leadership identity, difference-making and Dr. King's leadership lessons for today's student leaders. Lunch will be provided.
Commemoration Brunch
Thursday, Jan. 18, 12 - 2 p.m.
Student Center East Ballroom
Sponsored by Cultures, Communities & Inclusion
This year's commemoration will feature a keynote from two-time NAACP Image Award Nominee, Lynae Vanee, live entertainment and a networking brunch mixer.
The event will be live-streamed for participants on the Perimeter campuses.
King Center Visits
Friday, Jan. 19, 10:30 a.m. & 2 p.m.
Tours Depart from Student Center East Lobby
Sponsored by the Office of Civic Engagement
Head just a few blocks up the road and explore the King Historic District and The King Center! Transportation and lunch will be provided. Two tours are available.
ORIGIN Film
Monday, Jan. 20, 10:30 a.m.
A generous donor has agreed to cover all ticket costs for the nationwide showing of Ava DuVernay's newest film ORIGIN at 10:30 a.m. in all time zones on Saturday, January 20. The link below enables anyone interested in attending to select the number of tickets needed and the most convenient theater location from a drop-down menu.
ORIGIN, inspired by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson’s bestselling novel CASTE: The Origins of Our Discontents, has been hailed a “Top 10 Movie of the Year” by The Washington Post, The New York Times, Variety, and more. We are on a mission to ensure that as many students, educators, and learners of all ages have the opportunity to see the film and delve deeper into the themes depicted through our social impact learning materials – all free of charge.
Leaders for a Cause Festival: Celebrating Our Community
Tuesday, Jan. 23, 3 - 5 p.m.
Student Center West, 460 & 462, 466 & 468
Sponsored by Leadership Programs
This festive event will feature a live DJ, inspiring student performances, Leaders for a Cause student info booths (where they will highlight projects they have developed around a cause) finger foods, table/obstacle course games and more!
In the Community
We will update this page with more events, and your help is also appreciated - If you have suggestions for other events happening around the metro Atlanta area commemorating Dr. King, please let us know by clicking here.