Martin Luther King Jr. day is Monday Jan. 18. Many Mennonite colleges, universities and seminaries host special events to remember Dr. King’s legacy and start conversations about racism, oppression and more today.

If you are near one of these schools, here’s a listing of events that are free and open to the public. And if you’re not, a simple Google search could turn up a plethora of events near you.

Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
Elkhart, Indiana

January 16–18, 2016
Featured Guest: Ewuare Osayande

The Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) Intercultural Competence and Undoing Racism (ICUR) team is excited to celebrate the call and continue the work for racial justice as demonstrated by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. During the weekend, the ICUR team will host a series of public and on-campus events featuring activist, poet, educator and presenter, Ewuare Osayande. View the full schedule of events. 

Bethel College
North Newton, Kansas

Mass incarceration and its disproportionate effect on communities of color in the United States will be an underlying theme of Bethel College’s annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. There will be a screening of the 2007 documentary In Prison My Whole Life, which looks at the U.S. criminal justice system through the story of the imprisonment and trial of political activist Mumia Abu-Jamal, on Sunday, Jan. 17. Michelle Armster, Wichita, transitional executive director of Mennonite Central Committee-Central States in North Newton, will be the keynote speaker Monday, Jan. 18, on “The New Jane Crow.” Both events are held in Krehbiel Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Learn more. 

Bluffton (Ohio) University

Sarah Thompson, Executive Director of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), will present her speech titled “Moving Toward Conflict” for at 11 a.m. on Tuesday Jan. 19 in Founders Hall.

Drawing on cues from Martin Luther King, Jr., Thompson will explore how conflict is intrinsic to the work of justice and peace. Thompson will focus on how to stand up to for what one believes in, even when it involves interacting in conflict with others. Her presentation will contain stories and tips on how to be a person that is not conflict-avoidant but can handle difficult conversations and face the challenges of this day and age.

Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

EMU’s celebration begins Wednesday Jan. 13 and include a showing of the movie Selma, service projects, a Black Lives Matter solidarity march and a chapel celebration with Rev. Derrick Parson on Monday Jan. 18, 10:15 a.m. in Lehman Auditorium. View the full schedule of events.

Goshen (Ind.) College

Goshen’s events run from Saturday Jan. 16-Monday Jan. 18, and include a public reading with Sofia Samatar, author of the book A Stranger in Olondria, a Gospel concert and a convocation address from AnaBlacktivist scholar and author, Drew G.I. Hart.

View the full schedule online. 

Hesston (Kan.) College

Hesston’s two weekly chapels will be MLK-themed. Chapels are held at Hesston Mennonite Church.

Monday, Jan. 18, 11 a.m.: Speaker Larry Catlett, 2011 Hesston Pastoral Ministries graduate

Wednesday, Jan. 20, 11 a.m.: Speaker John Sharp, History and Bible and Ministry faculty at Hesston