Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Program

At the MLK Program, our mission is to foster students' engagement with and understanding of the complex issues of power, privilege, and social justice. 

"Coming to University of Minnesota, which is really big, but then being able to narrow it down to CLA, which is a little bit smaller, and then being able to narrow it down even more with my experience with MLK and then even further, to my one-on-one experience with my advisor, has been amazing. [They] have guided me in the most respectful and intuitive way... It's really cool, having somebody that can put the time in to know what your likes and interests are and your passions are and can kind of see that in yourself before you can see it in yourself."  

 

Rachel, MLK Program participant

Here for You

Our program provides a unique space for students, one that offers not only culturally-relevant academic advising but also important social justice programming — from talks and symposiums to concerts, cultural celebrations, and off-campus trips. 

Rich Tradition

Our program is among the first in the United States and was established as a culmination of events sparked by the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1969, Black students at the University of Minnesota staged a 24-hour protest at Morrill Hall, our administrative building. This demonstration led to the creation of not only what's now known as the university's African American and African Studies Department and the other ethnic studies departments that followed, but also the MLK Advising Program in CLA.

Addressing Today's Equity Issues

Since then, our program has continued to grow and evolve, but our vision has remained the same: we continue to lead the way in preparing CLA students to be ethical leaders and engaged citizens, ensuring that students from historically underrepresented communities have access to the best academic resources on campus. 

Want to learn more about our culturally-relevant advising support? Take a look at this video: