About this Event
Join the University of Colorado Boulder community as we gather to honor the life, vision and enduring legacy of civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Marking the university's fourth annual MLK Convocation, this event continues its perennial purpose: honoring Dr. King’s rich legacy by centering intersectional solidarity, confronting systemic racism, dismantling systems of oppression and uplifting our shared humanity through authentic community engagement. Through critical reflection, the convocation invites campus and local communities to gather, listen and transform shared values into real-world practice.
We are honored to welcome Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author and educator Nikole Hannah-Jones to campus for a moderated keynote conversation exploring the intersections of history, racial justice and democracy.
Keynote Speaker: Nikole Hannah-Jones
Nikole Hannah-Jones is the Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of “The 1619 Project” and a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine. Her investigative reporting on racial inequality and systemic injustice has shaped public conversation around American history, democracy and civil rights.
The book version of “The 1619 Project” and her children's book, “Born on the Water,” were both instant No. 1 New York Times bestsellers, and “The 1619 Project” has since been adapted into an acclaimed six-part Hulu docuseries. Over the course of her career, Hannah-Jones’s groundbreaking journalism has earned her a MacArthur "Genius Grant” Fellowship, a Peabody Award, two George Polk Awards and the National Magazine Award three times.
Beyond her writing, Hannah-Jones serves as the Knight Chair of Race and Journalism at Howard University, where she founded the Center for Journalism & Democracy. She co-founded the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting—an organization dedicated to increasing the number of investigative reporters and editors of color. Most recently, she opened the 1619 Freedom School, a free, after-school literacy program in her hometown of Waterloo, Iowa.
Hannah-Jones holds a Master of Arts in Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned her Bachelor of Arts in History and African-American Studies from the University of Notre Dame.
The 2027 CU Boulder MLK Convocation event is free and open to CU Boulder students, staff, faculty and members of the surrounding community. Advance ticket registration via Eventbrite is strongly recommended as seating is limited.
Sponsors
This program is sponsored by CU Boulder's Center for African & African American Studies and the Office of Leadership Support and Programming.
Parking
Paid parking for the keynote event is available in the Euclid Parking Garage, just east of the University Memorial Center (UMC) between Broadway and 18th Street. This is a "pay-by-plate" lot and payment can be made at a pay station or by using the ParkMobile app (Zone 63205). See more transportation options on the Campus Map (link to filter view).
Event venue & nearby stays
University Memorial Center, Glenn Miller Ballroom, 1669 Euclid Avenue, Boulder, United States
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