Events, Programs, & Resources

Please refer to the resources below for more information on MLK Programming, Events, and Academics. 

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr Program in the College of Liberal Arts established the MLK  graduation cord in 2017 to acknowledge the graduates of the MLK program that apply and meet the criteria for the distinguished cord. This symbolic cord is a representation of academic achievement, career readiness, and active participation in activities and or events sponsored by the MLK Program, our campus partners, and various community organizations that they have engaged with locally, regionally, nationally, and globally.  

The colors of the MLK graduation cord are black, white and blue. Black and white represents an age-old signal of servitude and humility which aligns with Rev. Dr. King’s beloved community. Rev. Dr. King wrote “the aftermath of nonviolence is the creation of the beloved community, so that when the battle is over, a new relationship comes into being between the oppressed and the oppressor.”  The Beloved Community was not a lofty utopian goal to be confused with the rapturous image of the Peaceable Kingdom, in which lions and lambs coexist in idyllic harmony. 

It was Dr. King’s global vision in the Beloved Community, poverty, hunger and homelessness will not be tolerated because international standards of human decency will not allow it in which all peoples can share in the wealth of the earth. With Rev. Dr. King’s vision as a guide, the color blue was chosen to represent international human rights. 

The staff of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Program thanks our scholars for their commitment to learning and engaging in the work of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and  self-agency for socially responsible leadership during their tenure at the University of Minnesota. Our goal is to empower our scholars as they grow in the quest of becoming conscious global citizens

Freestyle Friday

Freestyle Fridays create an open space for students of color to make connections, share their
varied experiences, questions, and concerns about social justice issues on campus and in the
community.

Asian and Pacific Islander

The API group has the goal of providing Asian and Pacific Islander groups with a sense of
community.

SHaDE

SHaDE provides a space for those identifying on the LGBTQ+ spectrum to build community and
support one another.

Cafecíto

Cafecíto is a space to build a stronger community, strengthen relationships, and discuss
ongoing issues that are affecting Latinx students.

For more information on any of our affinity groups contact us at mlkdesk@umn.edu

For assistance with financial aid, please Contact One Stop

One Stop Student Services is currently assisting students via phone, email, zoom, and chat from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Their in-person services are available by appointment on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the spring semester. 

One Stop provides expert advice regarding registration, financial aid, billing, payment, student records, and veterans benefits.