MLK Social Justice Week to feature community service, symposium

The University of Pittsburgh will host several events honoring Martin Luther King Jr. from Jan. 20 to 24.

To kick the MLK Social Justice Week off, Pitt Serves will conduct its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Jan. 20 — a day that the University is closed. The event will honor King through community service in a “day on, not a day off.” PittServes is looking for 900 volunteers from staff, faculty and students to work from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 20.

Participants can sign up here. Pitt Serves will announce specific volunteer locations at a later date. 

The other Justice Week events in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. are:

Alpha Phi Alpha Martin L. King Jr. Vigil, 7:06 p.m. Jan. 20, Schenley Quadrangle, followed by discussion in 538 William Pitt Union.

Equipoise Luncheon honoring Kathy W. Humphrey, senior vice chancellor for Engagement and secretary of the Board of Trustees, noon to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 21, William Pitt Union Assembly Room. Register here.

Interfaith Service, 6 p.m. Jan. 21, Heinz Chapel. Celebrate Dr. King’s legacy and his interfaith and justice-oriented work while honoring those in our community who walk that same path. RSVP at pi.tt/interfaithservice20

Social Justice Symposium: “Back to the Future: Understanding the Intersectionality of Marginalization through History,” 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 22, University Club. Faculty and staff can expect to learn about marginalized communities from a historical perspective to help foster mutual respect and challenge stereotypes and discrimination. RSVP here.  

Diversity + YOU Career Conference, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 24, William Pitt Union. This event, sponsored by the Career Center, will teach skills to create a diverse and inclusive work environment through conversations with students, faculty and staff. Register here.

For more information about these events, visit the MLK Social Justice Week website.

— Donovan Harrell