Westminster 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Keynote: "Bodies on the Line"

About the MLK Celebration Week Westminster College’s evolving efforts to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are anchored in his powerful words: “Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” Intelligence and character are pillars of a Westminster education and experience. They are embedded in Westminster’s college-wide learning goals, Diversity Statement, and our commitment to inclusivity. Each January, Westminster holds a week of events celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy that provides opportunities to connect and have conversations about diversity, community, and engagement. 2022-2023 Theme The theme for the 2022-2023 Bastian Foundation Diversity Lecture Series is a continuation of the previous year's theme: “The Counterstory: How Policy Responds to Identity.” This theme, which grew organically from the amplified debate about the realities of the intensified civil and social unrest exacerbated by the COVID-19 global pandemic, has been extended for another year. This theme seeks to provoke deep self-reflection of how one considers the lived experiences of others, how those differences impact others’ well-being, and how one can contribute to tangible social change. The theme for the 2023 Martin Luther King Jr Celebration Week will focus on the idea of "Bodies on the Line", relating to movement of the body as a form of both protest against systems and structures of social, cultural, and political power and a form of mental health, wellness, and healing.