Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Week January 18-22, 2027
Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Week January 18-22, 2027
Drawing from Dr. King's legacy and the words of civil rights leader and actor Ossie Davis, this year's MLK Week celebration explores how art has the power to move hearts, challenge injustice, and inspire collective action toward a more just society. The week will highlight the role of artistic expression in the Civil Rights Movement and Dr. King's belief in the need for creative, nonviolent action as a force for positive change.
"Any form of art is a form of power; it has impact, it can affect change – it can not only move us, it makes us move".
- Ossie Davis, 1917-2005
Davis, whose quote is often mistakenly attributed to Dr. King, was a prominent civil rights advocate who stood alongside King and championed the power of art as a catalyst for social progress. Along with his wife, Ruby Dee, he served as a master of ceremonies for the 1963 March on Washington and spent his life using both activism and the arts to advance equality and justice.
Get Involved!
Members of the HCC and Washington County communities are invited to help plan this year's week-long celebration of Dr. King's legacy, held January 18-22, 2027. Committee members play an active role in coordinating and facilitating events that are free and open to the public. To join the MLK Week Committee, contact the Dean of Students at studentaffairs@hagerstowncc.edu or 240-500-2526. Bi-weekly planning meetings begin on Tuesday, October 6 at 1:00 p.m. via Zoom.
Monday, January 18
HCC Closed in Observation of the Federal Holiday Marking Dr. King’s Birthday
- MLK Jr. Beloved Community Commemorative Service - 10:00 a.m. – Ebenezer Baptist Church (Atlanta, GA), sponsored by www.thekingcenter.org. Established in 1968 by Coretta Scott King, the MLK, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (“The King Center”) empowers people to create a just, humane, equitable, and peaceful world. Participate in the annual service honoring Dr. King’s birthday.
- Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transforms Us
- Why Was Art Essential to the Civil Rights Movement?
- Civil Rights Art
- Music in Civil Rights Movement
Tuesday, January 19
- National Day of Racial Healing - 10:00 a.m., Reflections throughout the day in the Student Center main dining area.
- MLK Week Posters - 1:00 p.m., HCC Graphic Design 146 Class Poster Presentations. Hear from our digital student artists who created this year’s MLK Week Posters and learn what inspired their designs. Posters will be on display throughout the week. Location: Student Center Main Dining & 182
Wednesday, January 20
- Lunch & Learn - TBD
Thursday, January 21
- Annual Community Peace Walk - 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Take an active role in keeping Dr. King’s message alive by participating in a short ceremony followed by a walk through campus. Beginning in the Student Center, participants will embark on a reflective journey around campus with brief stops to dive deeper into Dr. King’s vision while taking a break from the winter chill.
Friday, January 22
Day of Service
- Children In Need Day of Service - Two shifts: 9:30 a.m. - noon and 12:30 p.m. - 3 p.m. – Faculty, staff and students are invited to participate in a day of service at this downtown non-profit providing essential clothing items and educational supplies to children living at or below the federally recognized poverty level. CIN operates out of what was originally called North Street School (now the Martin Luther King, Jr Community Center), built in 1947, to provide the first secondary education of African-Americans in Washington County. Transportation from campus provided. Employees may participate (with supervisor permission). Space is limited, a registration link will be provided closer to the event.