Taft has a long tradition of pausing in January to reflect on the life, work, and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Through a series of events scheduled on and around the federal holiday honoring Dr. King’s birth, Tafties explore concepts central to his mission and messaging: equity, social justice, education, service.

This year, United Cultures of Taft delivered a Morning Meeting talk about the life and work of the minister and human rights activist born Malcolm Little, known widely as Malcolm X. The talk laid groundwork for a Morning Meeting visit by Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X and educator and civil rights advocate Dr. Betty Shabazz. Shabazz spoke to the community about social responsibility, and collective responsibility. “It is our responsibility to find our voices,” Shabazz said, “and make our voices heard—together.”

MLK Day, itself, featured a Global Leadership Institute Scholar breakfast, a series of faculty-led workshops and a keynote address by Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, who inspired students with her thoughts on education, character, and service, reminding them that it is “not just your education, but what you do with it that matters.” Workshop topics included environmental justice, gerrymandering, understanding neurodiversity, and gun violence.

MLK Day concluded with Taft’s annual Multicultural Arts Celebration, designed to lift up and honor culture, heritage, community and connections through artistic talent and personal expression.

View all of our MLK Day event photo galleries