Commit, organize, take action

For several years since the Civil Rights movement and beyond, young leaders have worked together to challenge political agendas, fight for justice, and organize community activism. Today is no different. When we think about local action, young leaders have taken a grassroots approach to organize communities and mobilize initiatives.

This year’s MLK Week (Jan 19 – 24) is a call to action for young people across our campus to engage in grassroots movements and communities that promote social change. It’s a prompt to identify the issues that not only impact us individually but to take a look at the issues that impact our surrounding communities – and then to do something about it.

A series of posters found around campus shares quotes from thought-leading activists. These quotes serve as a reminder that a collective approach is vital for social change.

A dull purple poster with a quote in uppercase light grey text. The quote by Shirley Chisholm reads: "You don't make progress by standing on the sidelines...you make progress by implementing ideas." The words "you make progress by implementing ideas" is emphasized in a dark purple shadow and rectangular bar behind the text.

A yellow-green poster with a quote in uppercase light grey text. The quote by Desmond Tutu reads: "My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together." The words "my humanity is bound up in yours" is emphasized in a dark green shadow and rectangular bar behind the text.

A blue-green poster with a quote in uppercase light grey text. The quote by Audre Lorde reads: "There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives." The words "we do not live single-issue lives" is emphasized in a dark green shadow and rectangular bar behind the text.

A dull, light red poster with a quote in uppercase light grey text. The quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. reads: "The time is always right to do what is right." The words "do what is right" is emphasized in a dark red shadow and rectangular bar behind the text.

A dull orange poster with a quote in uppercase light grey text. The quote by Charlene Carruthers reads: "At some point, people have to be driven and make an active choice to engage in some kind of way." The words "make an active choice to engage" is emphasized in a dark orange shadow and rectangular bar behind the text.

“The MLK committee’s goal this year is focused on engaging our students with community and grassroots movements,” said Estela Hernandez, chair for the 2019 MLK Week planning committee and event specialist for the Office for Equity and Diversity. “Each event is designed to provide tangible ways for our campus community to rally together and make positive change.”

MLK keynote, Charlene Carruthers, is a Queer feminist, community organizer, and writer. Carruthers will lead a discussion on the power of grassroots movements, youth leadership development work, ways to strategize activism and build community solidarity. Her keynote address will be on January 23 at noon in the Union Ballroom, 200 Central Campus Drive.

A full list of MLK Week events can be found at diversity.utah.edu/mlk.

By Neelam Chand January 9, 2019

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