Knox College is excited to welcome the community to its 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation celebration. The day will feature an inspiring lineup of events, starting with the annual MLK Breakfast and culminating in a Convocation with keynote speaker Michelle Kuo, a renowned advocate for social justice and the recipient of a 2023 Knox College Honorary Degree. Additionally, opportunities will be available to support the College’s month-long soup drive to support families in need.

On Monday, January 20, the Knox College MLK Jr. Convocation will begin at 11:00 a.m. in Harbach Theatre, located in the Ford Center for the Fine Arts. The Convocation will feature keynote speaker Michelle Kuo, whose work spans teaching in rural schools, advocating for immigrants' rights, and working in the prison education system. 

Kuo is an acclaimed author and social justice advocate whose work focuses on racial and economic justice, incarceration reform, and educational equity. Her book, Reading with Patrick, a runner-up for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize and the Goddard Riverside Stephan Russo Book Prize for Social Justice, tells the powerful story of her time teaching in the Mississippi Delta and working as a tutor in a county jail, exploring the intersections of education, race, and the criminal justice system. 

During the Knox College 2023 Commencement ceremony, Kuo received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, recognizing her dedication to social justice movements. Her experiences as a teacher, lawyer, and advocate have shaped her commitment to building a world without prisons and fostering restorative justice practices.

Before the Convocation event, the community is invited to take part in Galesburg’s annual MLK Holiday Breakfast at the First Lutheran Church, 364 Water St., Galesburg. Doors open at 7:00 a.m., and breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m. Tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for children under 12. They can be purchased in advance at Cornucopia Market or at the door on the day of the event.

Knox College is also hosting a month-long MLK Soup Drive throughout January. Donations will be accepted at the Knox College Kleine Center for Community Service, First Presbyterian Church, Ascent Church, outside of the MLK Jr.  Convocation, and the MLK Holiday Breakfast. This initiative aims to support families in need and embody the spirit of service that Dr. King championed.

All events are open to the public, and Knox College warmly invites the community to join in honoring Dr. King's legacy through reflection, learning, and service.