Step into a week of healing, reflection, and inspiration as we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Clark College and well as the National Day of Racial Healing. The 2025 MLK Celebration, presented by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, offers a series of events designed to restore, educate, and empower our community.

All are welcome. All events are free to attend.

Clark College expressly prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran or military status, citizenship, immigration status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal in its programs and activities. Learn more at www.clark.edu/nds.

Anyone needing accommodation due to a disability to fully participate in this event should contact Clark College’s Human Resources office prior to the event via phone: 360-992-2105 or email hr@clark.edu.

Event One: Guided Sound Bath (two sessions)

• When: Tuesday, January 21 (register for one session)
  • Session 1: 10-11 a.m.
  • Session 2: noon-1 p.m.
• Where: Gaiser Hall (GHL), Room 213
• Who: Open to Clark College students, staff, and faculty
• Register: Space is limited. Email mgolder@clark.edu to reserve your spot.

In alignment with the National Day of Racial Healing, begin your journey with a restorative healing space to help you pause, reset, realign. This healing session will prepare participants for meaningful engagement in this week’s events, from the book discussion to the keynote address by Dr. Bettina Love. Take this opportunity to connect within and find the balance needed to pursue equitable outcomes.

Anyone needing accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in this event should contact Clark College’s Human Resources office prior to the event via phone: 360-992-2105 or email hr@clark.edu.

Event Two: Book Discussion, Punished for Dreaming by Dr. Bettina Love

• When: Wednesday, January 22nd from 10-11:30 a.m.
• Where: Penguin Union Building (PUB), Room 161
• Book: Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal by Dr. Bettina L. Love

Engage in a thought-provoking book discussion of Dr. Bettina Love’s groundbreaking book, Punished for Dreaming. This conversation precedes Dr. Love’s keynote address by exploring the historical and systemic barriers to educational equity and how we can envision healing pathways. A limited number of books are available for purchase at the Clark College Bookstore for $19.50 each.

Event Three: Keynote Speaker Dr. Bettina Love, author of Punished for Dreaming

We Gon’ Be Alright, But That Ain’t Alright: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom

• When: Thursday, January 23rd from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Where: Gaiser Student Center

Don’t miss Dr. Bettina L. Love’s keynote address, We Gon’ Be Alright, But That Ain’t Alright: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom. An internationally acclaimed educator, author, and advocate for social justice, Dr. Love will delve into the struggles and possibilities of creating a future rooted in abolitionist teaching.

Abolitionist Teaching is built on the creativity, imagination, boldness, ingenuity, and rebellious spirit and methods of abolitionists to demand and fight for an educational system where all students are thriving, not simply surviving.

Drawing from her bestselling book, Punished for Dreaming, she will illuminate the necessity of moving beyond the “educational survival complex” to cultivate a system where every student thrives.

Join Us for a Week of Healing and Inspiration

The 2025 MLK Celebration at Clark College is more than a series of events—it’s a call to action. Whether through restorative practices, insightful dialogue, or powerful keynote addresses, this week will leave you inspired to continue Dr. King’s work of justice and equality.

Join Us: Learn more about MLK events at Clark College

About Dr. Bettina L. Love

A transformative voice in education and social justice, Dr. Bettina L. Love holds the esteemed William F. Russell Professorship at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Recognized by the Kennedy Center as one of the Next 50 leaders shaping an inclusive and compassionate future, Dr. Love’s profound insights and expertise have garnered acclaim from NPR, PBS, Time, Education Week, The Guardian, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Her latest New York Times bestselling book, Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal, is a winner of the Stowe Prize for Literary Activism and a finalist for the LA Times Book Award.

Dr. Love actively contributes to the mission of nurturing and empowering educators and parents committed to combating injustice within their educational institutions and communities. In 2018, the Georgia House of Representatives honored Dr. Love with a resolution for her impactful contributions to the field of education.

Her earlier bestseller, We Want to Do More Than Survive, has sold almost 200,000 copies. Books will be available in the Clark College Bookstore. Learn more about Dr. Bettina Love.

Post by Michelle Golder