Honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 16, 2023 

Dear Members of the Stonehill Community,

Today, we celebrate the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an esteemed theologian and leader of the civil rights movement. We honor his legacy by taking time to reflect upon his words and actions, as well as by recommitting ourselves to a life of service. 

In a speech entitled “Conquering Self-Centeredness,” given on August 11, 1957, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rev. Dr. King said, “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” His words are consistent with the College’s mission of creating a more just and compassionate world. I encourage you to seek out opportunities to make a difference on this National Day of Service and beyond. Here are some ways that you can positively impact others: 

For Students:

• Join your peers in the Martin Institute Auditorium today from 3 to 5 p.m. to make blankets for Project Linus, an organization that provides love, security, warmth and comfort to children in need. 
• Tackle food access issues in the local community by participating in The Farm’s MLK Days of Celebration program on Friday, January 20 at 2 p.m. Register here.  
• Submit a presentation proposal for the upcoming “Social Justice and the Politics of (Mis)Education” Undergraduate Conference, hosted by Stonehill’s Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and Social Justice. Submissions are due by Friday, January 20. Email center-resj@stonehill.edu for more information. 
• Share your artistic talents with our community by auditioning for the 2023 DiverCity Festival on Thursday, January 26 at 2:30 p.m. in the McCarthy Auditorium. 
• Mentor other students by joining the Advocates for a Brighter Stonehill Leadership Program. Applications are due by Friday, January 27. 
• Uplift each other by attending the Student of Color Empowerment Dinner, taking place Friday, February 24 at 4 p.m. in the Meehan Hall Great Room. 

For Faculty, Staff & Alumni  

• Empower and support your colleagues by joining affinity groups like the Faculty & Staff of Color Employee Resource Group. Upcoming meeting dates will be announced soon. 
• Get to know students of color by engaging with them through the College’s BACES Mentoring Program. 
• Seek out volunteer opportunities and attend events hosted by campus partners like My Brother’s Keeper and Father Bill’s & Mainspring.

All are invited to join us for a prayer service in Rev. Dr. King’s honor on Wednesday, January 18 at 12:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Mary. As we work together to live out his vision of a world in which all people are treated equally, may we remain dedicated to expanding our perspectives and acting with courage against prejudice.    

Yours in Holy Cross, 

Rev. John Denning, C.S.C. 

President