Equality. Unconditional love. Respect. Faith. Peace. These are a few things that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood for and believed in.

The iconic activist will be remembered at the 11th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Celebration “Stand!” at 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16 in Savage Arena.

Offering words of inspiration will be UT President Lloyd Jacobs, Toledo Mayor Michael P. Bell, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and area students. Hari Jones, curator of the African-AmericanCivil War Museum, will give the keynote address.

The Toledo Interfaith Mass Choir and a choir featuring area youth will give performances. And the 2012 MLK Scholarship recipients also will be recognized.

A free community luncheon will follow the ceremony, which will be carried live on Fox Toledo 36.

“It is appropriate for community and elected leaders, as well as representatives from religious, business, educational, social, youth, international and community organizations, to stand united at this special event,” Jacobs said. “It is a time to come together to reflect and look to a brighter future of unity andservice.”

“Each year this program evolves a little more and demonstrates to the community, through Dr. King’s teachings from the past, the importance of collaboration and cooperation in order to move us forward,” Bell said. “Together, with our partners at The University of Toledo, we will continue to work for the ideals he fought for — unity, social justice, education and peace.”

All attendees of the Unity Celebration, which is open to the public, are asked to bring a canned good that will be donated to the MLK Kitchen for the Poor, 650 Vance St. in downtown Toledo.

The University has scheduled a series of events for Unity Week in conjunction with the celebration that include volunteer opportunities, a Student Organization Fair, a Unity Vigil and more.

The event is organized by Unity Celebration committee co-chairs Dr. Shanda Gore, UT associate vice president for equity, diversity and community engagement, and Bill Stewart, special assistant to the mayor, and is hosted by the city of Toledo, the Board of Community Relations Inc. and the University.

For more information, contact Stewart at 419.245.1154 or the UT Office of Special Events at 419.530.2200.

Media Coverage
The Independent Collegian (Jan. 12, 2012)
The Blade (Jan. 13, 2012)
The Blade (Jan. 16, 2012)
The Blade (Jan. 17, 2012)
13 ABC, WTOL 11, WNWO and FOX Toledo (Jan. 17, 2012)