Photo Gallery: MU Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. - Division of ...

Photos by Morgan King & CJ Harris

The Division of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity was proud to sponsor the annual MU Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. keynote on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at the University of Missouri’s Reynolds Alumni Center.

The event kicked off with artist showcases, spotlighting artwork on the theme “Women’s and the Civil Rights Movement.”

Keynote speaker Joyce Ladner delivered a compelling address, sharing her stories of working alongside notable leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Bayard Rustin, Fannie Lou Hamer and other inspiring women advocates.

Ladner was a professor of sociology and provost and interim president at Howard University from 1994 to 1995. She was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1995 to the District of Columbia Financial Control Board to balance the city’s budget after it became bankrupt. She was also a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. Ladner was on the front lines of most of the major civil rights protests in the ’60s including Greenwood, Birmingham, Albany, Georgia, Selma and Jackson. As a field secretary for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), she was mentored by civil rights pioneers Hamer and Ella Baker. 

Artist Asia Long with Orr Street Studios paintings of Malcom X in a field of sunflowers (left) and Martin Luther King in field of red roses (right). Joyce Lander, (right) speaks with student artist JeNai about her piece.   Student artist N’ya Fritz shares her piece with Eryca Neville, principal, Douglass High School. Student artist N’ya Fritz speaking to smiling faculty and staff from the College of Education and Human Development Audience members listen to the keynote presentation. Audience members listen to the keynote presentation. (At right) La Toya Stevens, director of communications for the Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity, gives the Keeper of the Dream Award to winner Evan Danaher. Joyce Ladner receives standing ovation after her keynote address. La Toya Stevens, director of communications for the Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity, facilitates the Q&A. Singer Symonne Sparks captivates the audience with her rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” University of Missouri President Mun Choi (right) greets keynote speaker Joyce Ladner. The MLK Planning Committee poses for a photo with Joyce Ladner, President Mun Choi and Jasmine Gipson. The Lincoln University Dance Troupe poses for photo with Joyce Ladner.