ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Those looking to mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday by participating in community events have a few to choose from in Tree Town.
While some events focus on King’s beliefs, others highlight his bravery and impact on social justice advocacy.
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Here are the MLK events happening in and around Ann Arbor:
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium
Jan. 15 - Feb. 15 | University of Michigan, several locations
- Community members can congregate on University of Michigan campuses and online for several events honoring MLK and his impact over the next month. These include a keynote speech by social justice advocate Dr. Michelle Alexander, a children’s program, a carillon recital, workshops and discussions, a movie at the Michigan Theater and more. Discussion topics range from reparations and King’s legacy to solidarity and equity in business. Here’s the full schedule.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Drop-In Activity
Jan. 15 | Ann Arbor Art Center
- Stop by the art center gallery at 117 W. Liberty St. for a drop-in button-making activity from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Participants at the free family-friendly event will make buttons with imaging celebrating King’s beliefs. Here’s what you need to know.
MLK Day 2024
Jan. 15 | Ann Arbor District Library Downtown branch
- At 2 p.m., AADL’s downtown branch will show the 2014 film Selma, which highlights King and his followers marching from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama to fight for voting rights. The library also has a LEGO mosaic depicting the historic 1965 march.
- At 6:30 p.m., the library will host members of Veterans For Peace-93 as they discuss King’s stance on the military and how he may have responded to current events if he were alive today. See all of the library’s MLK resources here.
Say Your Dream: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Jan. 15 | Liberty Plaza Commons
- Starting at 1 p.m., join community members and the Ann Arbor Community Commons Initiating Committee in sharing your dream for Tree Town and its residents. This event is part of the city’s series of events celebrating Ann Arbor’s bicentennial birthday. Here are the details.
Martin Luther King Jr. celebration
Jan.15-19 | Eastern Michigan University
- The Ypsilanti university is hosting a week of MLK activities such as a mosaic reveal honoring the 1963 Walk to Freedom, a luncheon, an inaugural concert, a panelist discussion, community service and a movie. Events will be held in the Student Center and Pease Auditorium. Featured guests include activist Edith Lee-Payne, Judge Victoria Pratt and Fox 2 anchor Roop Raj. Find details here.
If those aren’t enough, some local museums will also open for the day, including the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History and the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum.