2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration: Indiana University

Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?

This year has been a challenging time for higher education—from a global pandemic that uprooted the lives of students, faculty, and others to ongoing protests in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

These events and others have renewed important conversations about social justice and inequality of opportunity throughout the country.

As we prepare to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on January 18, 2021, we do so against a backdrop of great division in America. Now more than ever, the ideas that Dr. King so fervently believed in can be lessons for real and lasting change: equality, diversity, and love.

IU's 2021 theme, "Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?," the title of Martin Luther King's final book, underscores this very sentiment with virtual programs, workshops, and opportunities exemplifying the humane causes espoused by this great civil rights leader — and offers opportunities to educate, learn, and grow.

Find MLK day events

Submit Your MLK Events

Social Justice Conference

Where Do We Go From Here: Social Justice Conference, a day-long diversity and social justice conference with concurrent sessions for IU faculty, staff, students, and community members. Leading social justice experts will address leadership, social justice, equality, and the ways we can build a world more reflective of Dr. King's dream.

Learn more about the conference

Building Bridges Award

In conjunction with our "Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?" theme, Indiana University is proud to invite students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners across the state of Indiana to submit nominations for the 2021 Building Bridges Award.

The Building Bridges Award is truly a special honor because it recognizes people who capture Dr. King's vision, spirit, and leadership in ways big and small—right here at IU and within our communities.

Learn more

Virtual Tool Kit

A new virtual toolkit will provide at-home experiences to help community members educate, learn, and grow. You can find unity breakfast educational activities, Martin Luther King family experiences, A Day On, Not A Day Off service opportunities, and conference tools to include social media badges, zoom backgrounds, and more.

Learn more