From Dreamers to Doers: How Ordinary People Shape Extraordinary Movements
Wiley University invites students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community friends to join us as we honor the life, legacy, and leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through a week of commemorative programs centered on reflection, dialogue, education, and action.
View the full schedule below and join us throughout the week.
(Most events are open to the campus community. Please see individual listings for details.)
Full Schedule of Events
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
One Night in Marshall: A Scholar, Leader, Debater, Activist, Vocalist, Athlete
Inspired by One Night in Miami (Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke)
Attendance: By invitation only
An invitation-only evening experience exploring leadership, identity, purpose, and legacy—through a uniquely Wiley lens.
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Thursday, January 15 – Friday, January 30, 2026
Wiley University Institutional Saga in Motion Exhibit
A Visual Representation of the Civil Rights Movement
Location: Thomas W. Cole, Sr. Library (during operating hours)
Explore a special exhibit highlighting pivotal moments of the Civil Rights Movement and the enduring power of collective action.
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Saturday, January 17, 2026
“Selma” Film Screening
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Julius S. Scott, Sr. Chapel
A screening of Selma followed by reflection on leadership, courage, and the ongoing work of justice.
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Monday, January 19, 2026 | 1:00 PM
Wiley University Teach-In
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave us the dream… our generation must continue the work.”
Location: Fred T. Long, Sr. Ballroom
Lunch: Grab your lunch and come
A campus-wide teach-in connecting Dr. King’s legacy to today’s challenges—empowering participants to carry the work forward.
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Tuesday, January 20, 2026 | 11:00 AM
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Chapel Program
The Fierce Urgency of Now: Race, Justice, and Moral Leadership in a Fractured World
Location: Julius S. Scott, Sr. Chapel
A chapel service focused on moral leadership, justice, and the call to act now.
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Wednesday, January 21, 2026 | 6:30 PM
Documentary, Dialogue, and Dinner
Featuring The Good Fight: James Farmer Remembers the Civil Rights Movement
Location: Fred T. Long, Sr. Student Union Ballroom
An evening of film, facilitated discussion, and community dinner reflecting on the Civil Rights Movement and its lessons for today.
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Presented By
The Wiley University Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Events Committee; Student Government Association; Dean of the Chapel; Thelma Dewitty Scholars Program; Office of Alumni Affairs; The Great Debaters of the Melvin Tolson–Denzel Washington Forensic Society; the Alpha Sigma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc.; Division of Academic Affairs; Interdisciplinary Studies; and the Office of the President.
