Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned a “Beloved Community”. By this he meant a world grounded in justice, compassion, and love for one another. This year’s theme, “Voices and Hands: Empowering Our Beloved Community,” calls us to embody that vision by uniting our actions and our voices to build bridges across differences and bring hope to our world.
For Dr. King, true progress required both the moral courage to speak out and the willingness to serve others. He believed that our voices have the power to challenge injustice, and that our hands have the power to heal and rebuild. By combining the forces of advocacy and action, we move closer to realizing his dream of a society where every person is valued and uplifted.
The Beloved Community is not an abstract idea; it is something we create together through daily acts of kindness, empathy, and service. It asks each of us to listen, to act for the betterment of our shared humanity. As we honor Dr. King’s legacy, we are reminded that change begins when we use both our voices and our hands to empower one another and to keep his dream alive in our time.
Tuesday, January 27, 12 - 1:30 p.m. | Bucknall Theater, Dodds Hall
Our celebration will feature a keynote speaker and awards will be presented to members of the Charger Community who demonstrate a commitment to the ideals and values of Dr. King. The event is free and open to the public.
Various service initiatives will also be taking place follwing the celebration from 2 to 4:30 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge, Bartels Hall.
To learn more, email StudentAffairs@newhaven.edu.
Nominations are open until December 5, 2025.
Tueseday, January 27 - Friday, January 30
Following the MLK celebration, and throughout the whole week, members of the Charger community are invited to take part in on-campus volunteer opportunities to support the greater New Haven community.
To learn more, email CSELO@newhaven.edu.
Jan. 27 - Jan. 30 | Marvin K. Peterson Library
Imagine a library where the “books” are people you know and see every day. That’s the idea behind The Living Library Project, sponsored by the Myatt Center, JEDI student ambassadors, and the Peterson Library.
The Living Library Project invites you to connect through personal narratives and creative expressions that highlight diverse experiences and identities in a variety of formats, including written reflections, audio, video, or visual art. This initiative creates a space to listen, learn, reflect, and offers opportunities to challenge stereotypes, reduce prejudice, and build mutual understanding.
Students, faculty, and staff can share their stories HERE by Friday, December 5.
To learn more, email CDI@newhaven.edu.
2025 Vision Award Winners
2025 Phillip & Susan Bartels Award for Leadership and Service
Alvin Tran, Sc.D., MPH, Associate Professor, Chair, Department of Population Health & Leadership
2025 MLK Student Scholarship Recipient
Sheraud Wilder '26
2024 Vision Award Winners
2024 Phillip & Susan Bartels Award for Leadership and Service
Michael Rossi, Ph.D., associate nean for faculty and curriculum for the College of Arts and Sciences
2024 MLK Student Scholarship Recipient
Marcus T. Harvin ’23 A.S., ’25
2023 Vision Award Winners
2023 Phillip & Susan Bartels Award for Leadership and Service
Linda Copney-Okeke ‘91, ‘94, ‘02 M.A., Director, Accessibility Resources Center
MLK Student Scholarship Recipient
Kaelin Barrionuevo ‘26
T-Shirt Contest Winner
Eyosias Teka '24
2022 Vision Award Winners
Philip & Susan Bartels Awards for Leadership and Service
Sofia Martinez ‘22
MLK Student Scholarships
Anta Fall ‘23
Katiushka Ruiz ‘24
T-Shirt Contest
Kiana White ‘23
As part of the University’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration, several Chargers were recognized for embodying the ideals of Dr. King and for their dedication to the University and local communities. The program also included a critical conversation about the importance of empowering democracy and embodying Dr. King’s vision.
As part of its weeklong Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, the University recognized several Chargers who embody Dr. King’s ideals and who are committed to making a difference in the University and local communities.