“Everyone can be great because everybody can serve,” spoke Martin Luther King, Jr. in a call to service. The UCCS community can answer that call during the UCCS MLK Days of Service and Action, a three-day series of events to be held from Jan. 31- Feb. 3, 2024.
The UCCS MLK Days of Service and Action are an annual campus tradition inspired by the federal holiday in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and serve as a way for UCCS to invest in the health and harmony of its community. Participants can attend workshops and volunteer in service projects that connect them with community and engage in educational workshops focused on activism, advocacy and King’s teachings.
“As part of the Mountain Lion community, I look forward to commemorating the remarkable achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as part of our days of service and action,” said Rame Hanna, Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “This campus-wide initiative serves as an opportunity for us to collectively advance our commitment to inclusive belonging and equitable transformation at UCCS. The journey toward greater access and equity is ongoing, so let us stand together and actively contribute to creating positive change on our campus and across the Colorado Springs community.”
Events throughout the week are free and open to all UCCS students, staff, faculty, alumni, and affiliated friends and family. To receive reminders for upcoming events and workshops, RSVP for the series. Check out a preview of the events below.
Event Schedule
Wednesday, Jan. 31
- 5-7 p.m. — Black History Month Kick Off | Berger Hall
- The MLK Days of Service & Action Student Kick Off, hosted by the Black & African Student Coalition, will feature a showcase of performances from The Black Student Union, African Student Association, Kappa Alpha Psi, Black Health Professions Student Organization, Krimson Kourts National Service Organization, & Sisterhood. The kick off will also feature a live performance by The Reminders, a local musical trio that seamlessly blends soulful sounds and roots music with insightful messages and thoughtful lyrics.
Thursday, Feb. 1:
- 8:30-10 a.m. — Keynote Address: Ashley Cornelius, 6th Poet Laureate of the Pikes Peak Region | Berger Hall
- Start off a day of learning and engagement with UCCS and the greater Colorado Springs community. A welcome address made by Mayor Yemi Mobolade will be followed by a keynote speech from Ashley Cornelius, a recipient of the Mayor’s Young Leader Award, and Poet Laureate.
- 11 a.m.-12 p.m. — Heritage Month Story Hour at the FDC
- Join the Office of DEI Education & Outreach for our monthly Heritage Month Story Hour series focused on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Volunteer to read stories and do activities with one of the preschool classes at the UCCS Family Development Center.
- 1-3 p.m. — Activism and Wellbeing Panel | University Center Room 303, Hybrid
- A conversation around the balance of activism and wellness where participants will hear from a panel of community speakers who center social activism, wellbeing and the tangible tools they utilize in their work. Lunch will be served for in-person participants.
- 4-6 p.m. — The World We Must Build: Panel and Performances | Clyde’s Gastropub
- Martin Luther King. Jr. had a dream of all people living with freedom and dignity, but we are not yet there. We still have work to do to make that world a reality. This evening at Clyde’s Gastropub will start with a student panel discussion and end with artistic performances as we come together to envision the world we want to inhabit today and in the future.
- If you’d like to speak to the theme “The World We Must Build” through a performance or artistic work of any medium, please sign up here. All students and all forms of expression are welcome!
Saturday, Feb. 3:
- 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. — Day of Service: UCCS Family Development Center
- Join UCCSlead as we complete a campus service day for the UCCS Family Development Center. The UCCS Family Development serves our UCCS and Colorado Springs community and participants will have the opportunity to give back through a series of projects that support the FDC.
Sponsors and event partners include the UCCS Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Office of DEI Education and Outreach, the MOSAIC & LGBTQ+ Resource Center, the Department of Student Life, the Department of Sustainability, UCCSlead, University Communications, the UCCS Alumni and Friends Association, the Office of the Dean of Students and the Office of Admissions.
Questions? Please reach out to Sloan Gonzales, Director of DEI Education and Outreach.