UC rallies for MLK's dream: From words to action
UC spotlights inspiring events to honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy
The University of Cincinnati is turning up the excitement as it urges everyone to walk the talk in keeping Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream alive.
Get ready for a feast of inspiration and self-improvement at UC's African American Cultural & Resource Center (AACRC), Tangeman University Center (TUC) and the College of Medicine. This isn't just a celebration; it's a call to action inspired by King's timeless words: "Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’"
"We're not just dreaming, we're living it!,” says Eric Watford, AACRC program director, “King's dream wasn't built in a day, and we're keeping the flame alive through our words, outreach and collaboration."
Living the Dream — It Starts With Us
The celebration kicks off in UC's TUC Great Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 10. The annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. tribute, "Living the Dream — It Starts With Us," is set to energize the crowd with keynote speaker Gabe Davis, a powerhouse with a background in civil rights.
Participants will enjoy an inspiring day of self-improvement — including breakfast — that dives deep into King's movement, life and legacy before the prestigious "Embodiment of Hope Award" is presented, honoring a UC hero who embodies King's spirit, vision or goals. RSVP online
Thursday, Jan. 11, is all about self-discovery at UC's AACRC with the MLK Day of Learning. Fuel up your passion for change during a dynamic luncheon where co-leaders Keith Lanser and Ilaisah Martinez will tackle personal identities, implicit bias, privilege and self-care and meditation.
Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'
Martin Luther King Jr.
Honoring the Life and Legacy of O'dell Owens, MD
O'dell Owens, MD photo/provided
UC Health and UC’s College of Medicine wrap up the week on Friday, Jan. 12, from 10-11:30 a.m., with the 51st annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration ceremony. This year, they're shining the spotlight on the incredible life and legacy of O'dell Owens, MD, within the UC family and beyond.
The morning ceremony, led by UC’s Michael Thomas, MD, promises a powerful humanitarian honoree event in Kresge Auditorium in the UC Medical Sciences Building, 231 Albert Sabin Way.
Find more information or RSVP online.
Through the collective struggle for equal rights worldwide, King's words continue to echo, urging everyone to make a career of humanity by committing to the noble struggle for equal rights. “You will make yourself a better person, a greater nation of your country and a finer world to live in."
Get ready to be inspired, uplifted and ready to make a difference!
Featured image at top: Sculpted head of the Martin Luther King Jr. national monument. Photo/Raffaele Nicolussi/ courtesy of Unsplash
Diversity & Equity Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation, impact, diversity and equity. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
A jolly good trip: Bearcats take on London for fragrance company
May 15, 2026
Six NEXT Innovation Scholars at the University of Cincinnati traveled to London to transform field research into actionable recommendations for British luxury bath, body and fragrance brand Molton Brown.
UC Blue Ash celebrates top students and recognizes Honor Student of the Year
May 14, 2026
The University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College recently hosted a special event that celebrated students for exceptional achievements during the 2025-26 academic year. The honorees included academic award winners, student engagement award winners, Latin Honors graduates, and the 2026 UC Blue Ash College Honor Student of the Year.
Is a colonoscopy painful?
May 13, 2026
The University of Cincinnati's Susan Kais, MD, assistant professor of clinical medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in the College of Medicine and UC Health gastroenterologist, recently appeared on the ARC Cincinnati morning program on Local 12/WKRC-TV to answer common questions from viewers about colonoscopies and to dispel myths.