Legacy of Courage: Celebrating the Voice that Inspired Change
A day filled with inspiration, reflection, and community involvement awaits as we pay tribute to the impactful teachings of Dr. King. Join fellow students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Gay S. Steele Keynote Speaker
State Representative and Assistant Minority Leader Dontavius Jarrells is serving his third term in the Ohio General Assembly, representing House District 1, which includes the City of Bexley and portions of Columbus. Widely regarded as one of the most effective Democratic legislators in the Ohio House, Rep. Jarrells has earned a reputation as a transformative leader and a tireless advocate for progress, equity, and opportunity.
Born and raised in Cleveland’s historic Hough neighborhood, Rep. Jarrells grew up surrounded by the challenges that countless Ohioans face every day. Families struggling to find affordable housing, children attending underfunded schools, and communities fighting for access to basic healthcare were not abstract issues—they were his lived reality. As a lead poisoning survivor, he understands the deeply personal impact of environmental injustice and systemic inequities. These experiences shaped his worldview and ignited his passion to build a brighter, fairer future for all.
Rep. Jarrells’s legislative record showcases his unwavering dedication to creating a better Ohio for all families. He has secured $150 million for lead prevention programs and passed landmark legislation, including the Paystub Protection Act, which guarantees workers access to their pay statements; a law providing no-cost lead abatement for water lines; and legislation empowering attorneys to independently remove discriminatory deed restrictions. He has also spearheaded efforts to remove offensive language from Ohio’s state code and successfully designated January 11 as Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Beyond his legislative achievements, Rep. Jarrells has delivered millions of dollars in funding to House District 1 and Franklin County, supporting local initiatives and capital projects that strengthen the region.
Join us as we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with impactful events on the 34th annual MLK Day of Learning at Capital University. From the community gathering to thought-provoking workshops and small business market, there’s something for everyone to celebrate, reflect, and engage.
Schedule at a Glance
9 a.m.- Community Gathering (Harry C. Moores Student Union)
10 a.m. - Opening Convocation (Mees Auditorium, Conservatory of Music)
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Schumacher Gallery Open (Blackmore Library)
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Hank Marr Jazz Luncheon (Harry C. Moores Student Union)
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Local and Small Business Market (Harry C. Moores Student Union Lobby)
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Afternoon Workshops (Locations TBD)
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Community Engagement Opportunities (Convergent Media Center)
A finalized schedule of events and workshops will be available by January 6, 2025.
Community Engagement Opportunities
- School Supply Bag Assembly: Help Capital compile school supply bags for students in the Greater Columbus area. Donations of unopened school supplies and personal care items are also welcome.
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- Accepted Items:
- School supplies: pens, pencils, notebooks, folders, loose-leaf paper, etc.
- Personal care items: hand sanitizer, tissue packs, band-aids, cleaning wipes, etc.
- Accepted Items:
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Oral History Project: Share your experiences with MLK Day at Capital University and beyond. Capital is collecting stories from campus and community members to honor Dr. King’s legacy. Sign up for an on-campus recording session or submit a testimonial online before the event.
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Health Resources & Education: Explore health resources and educational materials provided by campus staff and external partners. Stay tuned for more details.
Schumacher Gallery at Capital University
12 – 4 p.m.
Blackmore Library, Fourth Floor
Capital University’s Schumacher Gallery offers a wonderfully diverse selection of over 3,200 works with over 2,500 years of cultural history for study and enjoyment. It provides the university and the community with extensive programs of special focus exhibits, lectures, and art-related events.
The Perfect Shot: Walter Iooss Jr. and the Art of Sports Photography
January 20 - April 5, 2025
This exhibition takes visitors through some of the most inspiring moments in sports history and highlights the craft and talent of Walter Iooss Jr., an American photographer who transformed iconic moments into works of art. The exhibit features professional portraits, action shots, and original “Sports Illustrated” magazine covers that feature athletes as diverse as Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods, Serena Williams, and many more.
Among the gallery’s treasures, visitors can discover the ingenuity of the painter, the mastery of the ceramist, and the virtuosity of the sculptor. In keeping with Dr. King’s vision or equality and representation for all people, we offer a wide variety of art and culture leaning towards focusing on cultures that tend to be underrepresented.
- The Photography Gallery is comprised of photos by notable artists of our time including Isle Bing, Larry Fink, Ken Heyman, Jeannette Klute, Herman Leonard, Leon Levinstein, Louis Stettner, and Garry Winograd that add to the rich diversity of the gallery’s collections.
- The African Gallery celebrates art from all over Africa and is one of the largest collections on display in the state representing more cultures and tribes than any other collection in the area. This collection includes significant works from the Yoruba, Dan, Dogon, Chokwe, Baule, Fang, Kuba, Senufo, and Songeye cultures.
- The Inuit Gallery is one of the largest collections of soapstone carvings in the Midwest. It includes over 300 soapstone sculptures and prints from various Inuit artists including Kenojuak Ashevak, Kanganginak Pootoogook, Aoudla Pudlat, and Jonasie Quaraqotok.
- The Asian Collection acquaints visitors with the beauty of traditional and contemporary Asian dating back 2,500 years art including Ming porcelain and Tang dynasty sculpture and is one of the only permanent collections in the city.
- The Ohio collection features prominent artists such as George Bellows, Charles Burchfied, Robert Henri, Elijah Pierce, Edward Potthast, Alice Schille, David Blythe, and Robert Chadeayne. This collection is the only permanent display of Ohio artists on display in Columbus.