MLK Day 2026: On campus and beyond
Although Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a Ƶ holiday, we encourage you to think of it as a "a day on, not a day off'. This National Day of Service was established over 30 years ago to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, and to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.
A wide variety of events and gatherings will happen in the Portland Metro area for MLK Day - find one that resonates with you in . Then, plan to join us in the University Center for a day-after gathering on Tuesday, January 20th:
Feeding the Soul: Food and Art in Beloved Community
Tuesday, January 20
Drop-in from 11:30am - 2:00pm
University Center (Forest Grove Campus)
About the Event
You're invited to an afternoon of recitation, reflection, and action on in the UC on Tuesday, January 20. Drop-in any time between 11:30am-2pm for food, drinks, conversation, art, and more. Together we will amplify the voices of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Fannie Lou Hamer, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Stanley Levison and other luminaries who lit the way forward during the Civil Rights Movement. Their words remind us of our unfinished work—the civil and legal rights we must defend and expand for all.
What You'll Experience:
- Powerful readings and recitations from the speeches and prose of civil rights leaders
- Historical displays and posters connecting our past to our present
- An interactive space to write and share your own reflections on what's happening in our communities right now, including an opportunity to contribute to a collective zine making process
- Concrete information on how to organize, advocate, and add your voice, including supplies to “Write for Rights” in support of Amnesty International’s campaign supporting 8 individuals whose human rights are being violated right now
Everyone is invited. Whether you've prepared words to share or you're coming to listen and be moved - bring yourself.
Reclaim our history. Affirm our future. Take action.
Learn more and plan to join us!