MLK Week of Action
To commemorate and take action upon Dr. King's vision for peace and justice, Stetson University's Cultural, Civic and Community Engagement team are partnering with local organizations to host a series of events - both on- and off-campus - coinciding with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in mid-January.
All events are open to students, faculty, and staff, though some events require pre-registration to attend. More information on each event is below.
Stay tuned for updates on event details!
MLK Celebration Gala & Awards Banquet (tickets required for entry)
6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Sanborn Center in DeLand (815 S Alabama Ave, DeLand, FL 32724)
Cultural Credit Event
Tickets are required for entry! RSVP by January 15th.
Kicking off MLK Week of Action this year, the Celebration Gala is planned by the MLK DeLand Planning Committee and is supported by Stetson University through the Office of the President and the Cultural, Civic and Community Engagement team. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the program will begin at 6:00 p.m. The attire will be formal. Cultural Credit event. This event is free for Stetson students, faculty, and staff to attend, although seating is limited and tickets are required. Register here to secure your seat.
Annual MLK Unity March
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Meet Outside the Museum of Art - DeLand (600 N. Woodland Blvd. - just across from Emily Hall)
Cultural Credit Event
Join hundreds of local community members in the annual MLK Unity March, coordinated by the MLK DeLand Planning Committee. Participants are encouraged to bring banners and signs that reflect their commitment to Dr. King's vision of economic and racial justice. The March will proceed from the Museum at 10:45 a.m., travel through downtown DeLand, and conclude at Earl Brown Park (approximately one mile away) by 11:45 a.m., in time for the annual MLK Festival that will begin at noon. Cultural credit available.
Annual MLK Festival and Advent Health Fair
12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Earl Brown Park (750 S. Alabama Ave., DeLand)
Join hundreds of local community members at the annual MLK Festival, coordinated by the MLK DeLand Planning Committee, which will feature family-friendly live performances, local business and non-profit activity booths, food trucks, and more!
Things We Don't Talk About At Dinner: Race in the United States
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location TBD
Cultural Credit Event
Join us for a special MLK Week of Action edition of Things We Don’t Talk About at Dinner as we explore one of the most personal—and most complex—topics in American life: race. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, this conversation invites our community to reflect on how racial identity and inequality continue to shape our experiences, relationships, and institutions today. Students, faculty, staff, and community members are all welcome. Dinner catered by Panda Express.
MLK Life & Legacy Celebration (tickets required for entry)
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Stetson Room 230 (Carlton Union Building, 131 E Minnesota Ave., DeLand)
Cultural Credit Event
Tickets are required for entry! Please RSVP by January 11!
Join the Cross-Cultural Center as we celebrate the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—a visionary leader whose unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and peace transformed a nation. This year, as America marks 250 years, we pause to reflect on how far we’ve come, where we are now, how far we have yet to go, and what it means to live Dr. King’s legacy through challenge and change.
Together, we will honor his enduring impact, engage in meaningful dialogue, and recommit ourselves to building a world where freedom and dignity are shared by all. This campus-wide celebration is a time for community, reflection, celebration, and commitment to action—a moment to realign as a community and live out Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community.
MLK Days of Service: Environmental Stewardship at the Aquatic Center
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center (2636 Alhambra Ave, DeLand, FL 32720)
Cultural Credit Event
Join us for MLK Days of Service as we partner with the Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience for an afternoon of hands-on environmental work at the Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center. Together, we’ll help remove invasive plant species and beautify the surrounding grounds, supporting the health and resilience of our local ecosystem. If you need a ride to the Aquatic Center, please email [email protected] to reserve transportation. The carpool group will meet on the front porch of the CUB at 1:45 p.m. Gloves and all necessary materials will be provided. Please wear comfortable clothes that can get dirty, closed-toe shoes, and bring a water bottle.
MLK Days of Service: Community Gardening with Black Homeschoolers of Central Florida
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
American Legion Orange Baker Post 187 (415 West Voorhis Ave, DeLand, FL 32720)
Cultural Credit Event
Join us as we support the Black Homeschoolers of Central Florida at their Community Garden (415 West Voorhis Ave, DeLand, FL 32720). Volunteers will assist with garden upkeep and beautification, helping nurture a space that provides learning, community, and nourishment. If you need a ride to the garden, please email [email protected] to reserve transportation. The carpool group will meet on the front porch of the CUB at 9:45 a.m. Please wear comfortable clothes that can get dirty, closed-toe shoes, and bring a water bottle.