A photo of a group of people walking with candles. Two people in the front of the group hold up a banner for Alpha Phi Alpha.
A silent candlelight vigil, hosted by the VCU Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., is held each year as part of MLK Week. (Kevin Morley, Enterprise Marketing and Communications)

Jan. 11, 2024

VCU will celebrate ‘thriving communities’ during MLK Week 2024

This year’s series of events commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will focus on his concept of the beloved community.

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In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Virginia Commonwealth University’s MLK Week 2024 will explore his idea of the beloved community through events, discussions and other activities.

This year’s theme, “Thriving Communities: The Legacy of MLK’s Beloved Community,” stems from when King said, “Our goal is to create a beloved community, and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.” King’s concept of the beloved community continues to inspire social justice movements and community-building efforts, while serving as a guiding principle for those working toward a more equitable, inclusive and compassionate world.

On its website this year, VCU’s Division of Community Engagement has highlighted some MLK-related events being held both at VCU and off campus. They include:

Jan. 12, 7:30 a.m.
Virginia Union’s 46th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Leaders Celebration
Downtown Richmond Marriott
500 E. Broad St.

Jan. 14, 3-6 p.m.
Richmond Symphony Celebration for MLK
Dominion Energy Center
600 E Grace St.

Jan. 15, 6 p.m.
Seventh Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Silent Candlelight Vigil March
VCUArts Depot
814 W. Broad St.

Jan. 18, 5-7 p.m.
VCU Keynote Celebration 2024
Institute for Contemporary Art 
601 W. Broad St.

The featured speaker is Pastor Vernon Gordon, a VCU alum and the lead/founding pastor of The Life Church and the founder of The Mosaic Project, a nonprofit designed to inspire social change and cultural unity. Registration for the Keynote Celebration is required at forms.gle/Y7XQdAR5V6MbkFb69.

Jan. 20, 4-6 p.m.
VCU Health 2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Community Walk
Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU Children’s Pavilion & Children’s Tower
1000 E. Broad St.

Winter's Place 7-Cities Shoe Drive in collaboration with VCU and VCU Health

As part of MLK Week, there will be an opportunity to [articipate in an initiative to gather gently used or new shoes for youth, a donation effort that will directly support children in Richmond Public Schools. The 7-Cities Shoe Drive, originating in the Hampton Roads area, is now extending its reach to Richmond through collaboration with Winter's Place, a nonprofit organization founded by 9-year-old Winter Davis and her mother, Kendra Barner. Donation boxes will be placed at the MLK Week Keynote Celebration.

 

For questions about MLK Week 2024, email engage@vcu.edu or visit the Division of Community Engagement’s MLK Week website at mlkday.vcu.edu/.