On the 35th anniversary of this community event, GVSU President
Philomena V. Mantella said she is pleased the higher education
partners teamed to bring Alcindor to the community.
"Dr. King’s legacy invites all of us to commit ourselves to
fighting systemic racism by supporting the Black community and
elevating their voices and experiences of yesterday, today and
tomorrow," Mantella said. "Together, we as a nation have
work to do."
Bill Pink, president of GRCC, said: “Each year we come together as a
community to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King. We recognize his
achievements, his life and his message. But it is also a time for us
to take a hard look at ourselves and our community. We can appreciate
how far we have come while still focusing on the long road ahead. The
events of 2020 show we have much to do. Our annual celebration can
inspire us to do that work together.”
Richard J. Pappas, president of Davenport University, said he is
grateful the campus partners honor the legacy of King and are
"renewed in our commitment to provide equitable and inclusive
experiences across our campuses."
"Together, we are teaching and shaping tomorrow’s leaders to
build each other up, show others compassion, speak out against racism
and violence and rally together for what is right," Pappas said.
Alcindor joined PBS NewsHour in 2018. She began her journalism career
at Newsday in New York and several years later was named a political
correspondent for NBC and MSNBC. During the 2020 presidential
election, Alcindor became a go-to voice in analyzing the nation's most
critical issues.
Alcindor has received the White House Correspondents’ Association
Aldo Beckman Award for Overall Excellence in White House Coverage and
the 2020 National Association of Black Journalists' Journalist of the
Year Award.
More information about Alcindor, the January 18 event and other GVSU
events to commemorate King's life are online at gvsu.edu/mlk.
