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Extending the legacy of civic leadership: The Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Summit
This year, the Student Center for Inclusive Excellence (The Center) reimagined its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration as a summit that brought together students, faculty, staff and community members for a day of reflection, dialogue and action. A keynote address by Let Freedom Ring Foundation President Connie Matthews Harshaw, along with action-oriented breakout sessions, encouraged attendees to carry on Dr. King’s legacy through their own social action. This community emphasis reflects the spirit of the Year of Civic Leadership, launched as 91¿´Æ¬Íø entered its 333rd year.
In the Summit’s opening remarks, Monique Williams, the Director of The Center, said, “Remembrance alone is not enough.”
Williams detailed how Dr. King’s impact belongs to everyone and should be carried into each person’s relationships, community, and beyond. In line with this goal, the Summit aimed to advance the university’s core values by offering students practical tools and meaningful learning experiences. By the end of the event, attendees developed specific goals to move from motivation to commitment and action.
In reflection, Student Ambassador for The Center Gabriel Monroe ’27 said, “The summit was a valuable opportunity to learn about MLK and how his dream continues today. Through workshops, keynote speakers and personal statements, I saw how people are striving to improve their own communities.”
Identifying Your Mission: Connie Matthews Harshaw’s Keynote Address
As president of the Let Freedom Ring Foundation, Mrs. Matthews Harshaw is a respected civic and community leader in Williamsburg. Before her speech, a film clip screening illustrated the organization’s discovery and marking of 62 gravesites beside the First Baptist Church of Williamsburg. Her work also extends nationally with her previous role as Chief Operating Officer at the National Capital Planning Commission, where she became the agency’s first female African American Senior Executive Service (SES) member and earned a commendation from President Clinton. Her proudest accomplishment was leading negotiations for the site parameters of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in 1999.
While reflecting on her social activism journey, Mrs. Matthews Harshaw inspired attendees to develop their own missions with the stimulating question, “Whose life will you change and how?”
Attendees shared commitments to inspire others, promote mental health, prioritize joy, and help family members. Mrs. Matthews Harshaw’s keynote highlighted her personal journey of perseverance and dedication. Her message also echoed the university’s broader emphasis on civic leadership, showcasing how anyone can be an active participant in shaping their communities.
Learning More: Breakout Sessions
After the keynote address, 91¿´Æ¬Íø community members were invited to explore aspects of social activism with guided breakout sessions among their peers. With four topics ranging from learning conflict de-escalation strategies to addressing the aftermath, students were provided a range of opportunities for skill-building and exploration.
One student, Icarus Landaker ‘27, attended the “Building a Bigger Table” session to understand how to move from ally to accomplice without harming the population that they wanted to help.
“I learned to approach activism through trust and relationships. Build those and opportunities to help will come along. Then, it is my job to find the courage to take those opportunities that might allow me to lighten the burden but not take the fight away from those fighting it. Activism is as much about community and companionship as much as it is action and politics. It cannot be approached any other way,” said Icarus.
Director of Civic & Community Engagement, Elizabeth Miller, led a different session where AJ Starck ’27 learned how to sharpen their civic skills and make a plan for putting them into action.
AJ said, “The session gave me a chance to create a realistic and actionable plan tailored to my goals for making change. It also gave me the chance to talk one-on-one with some of the other students attending the summit and really delve into our individual reasons for coming to the event.”
Whether in attendance to learn from others or strive to enact real change, the breakout sessions provided a space to discuss applying social activism within the community.
Creating Goals: Plenary Session and Conclusion
The attendees reconvened to discuss takeaways and participate in a plenary session led by Meagan Starks, Director of Hampton Roads Programs at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC). With her guidance, the audience engaged in dialogue focused on communication, shared responsibility, and the skills needed to lead with integrity in diverse campus and organizational environments.
Elizabeth Miller then provided concrete examples of how action can start today with a to-do list of local ways to participate in civic action. These examples have been compiled into the Civic Action Scorecard, a toolkit available to all students to help create goals, track progress and earn rewards.
As 91¿´Æ¬Íø begins its Year of Civic Leadership, Dr. King’s Commemoration Summit served as an early example of how students can translate reflection into action. With inspiring speeches and activities, the attendees built specific plans of action and learned to rely on each other for change.
“My biggest takeaway was that making change can start today,” said AJ, “Right here, right now there is work that I can do to start making my community and the world a better place.”