Together, We Rise:
Summoning a Season of Renewal
Join Williams College as we celebrate and reflect
on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 


woman reading book while sitting on chair

Join us for three weeks of virtual programming celebrating and reflecting on the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

bowl of tomatoes served on person hand

Cosponsors

This programming is cosponsored by the Office of Special Academic Programs, Williams Libraries, the Chaplains' Office, and the Center for Learning in Action.

Meditating on a Season of Renewal, Williams Way: Reckoning With Our Silenced Narratives
History Mini-Pop Up

Martin Luther King Jr. said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

Over the last year we have collectively experienced what seems to be an interminable period of challenges, loss, grief, disappointment, and division. Meditating on this year’s MLK DAY theme, “Together, We Rise: Summoning a Season of Renewal,” please share a few words on what renewal and healing means to you and/or the Williams community or reflect on this past year at Williams.

The Williams Way:

Create a Voice Memo

Reckoning our  Silenced Narratives

What does renewal and healing mean to you and/or the Williams community or reflect on the past year at Williams.

Click here to access the PDF, "How to Record a Voice Memo." 

The Williams Way:

History Pop-up

Reckoning our Silenced Narratives

Schedule a time to share a few words with an archivist on what renewal and healing means to you and/or the Williams community or reflect on this past year at Williams. After you finish the form an archivist will be in touch!

The Williams Way:

Share Images, Poems, Text Messages, Screenshots, Memes & More

Reckoning our Silenced Narratives

Submissions will be preserved in Williams Special Collections as part of The Williams Way: Reckoning with our Silenced Narratives and the Williams Covid-19 Experience Project.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic has required organizers of the Martin Luther Day Jr. Day of Service to devise new ways to encourage civic and community engagement.

Watch a Movie: 
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Film Series

Williamstown's own Images Cinema is working with us to host great films to inspire and educate. 

*The Reason I Jump
*Mr. SOUL!
*Born to Be
*Coded Bias 


Use code MLKDay for a free viewing. Limited passes available.

Get Cooking:
Share your recipes and their stories

As part of the MLK Jr. Day celebration at Williams we traditionally come together to share meals from the different communities that make up our community. Due to Covid-19 disruptions, we cannot share meals together, but the desire to eat in community still exists. This year we are inviting members of Williams College to share with us a dish from your family's recipe box, from your cultural tradition, or one you that developed in Mission during your first year at Williams. We will collect these recipe and present them to the Williams College community as another way to eat in community. You will also be entered into a raffle to win a gift card for a meal on us!

Participate in Service:
Northern Berkshire Community Coalition Day of Service

It's important to remain engaged in our communities, even as we find ourselves physically separated by the pandemic. Please find a variety of ways to connect to others this MLK Jr. Day of Service, compiled by the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition. A flyer and more information is shared the bottom of this page.

If you'd like to pick up a letter writing kit or drop off mittens, hats, socks, or canned goods in Williamstown, Jen Ceolinski will be stationed outside of the First Congo Church from 10am-12pm on 1/18! 

For pickup in North Adams, call NBCC and you will be directed accordingly.

Remember to use #mlkmountaintop as you document your participation!


Peacemaker Award

The Peacemaker Award is given once annually to individuals or groups in our region. The award, which originated as part of the local celebration of the life and work of Martin Luther King, is made to persons who have contributed substantially to peace in this region. In general, the Peacemaker Award recognizes persons who have a history of working with people and/or neighborhoods and communities to provide for greater tolerance, understanding, and caring and should exemplify the teachings and model of Martin Luther King. While the award may be made to a person or group well known in the region, those making nominations are particularly urged to consider those who have worked hard and made contributions without much recognition. Award winners will receive a certificate of recognition and their names will be engraved on a Peace Maker Plaque, which is kept in the office of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition. 

This year's award winner is our very own Bilal Ansari! Congratulations to Bilal!

people laughing and talking outside during daytime

Events & Opportunities Calendar

Together We Rise Summoning A Season Of Renewal

Address

10 Morley Circle
Williamstown, MA, 01267, US

About us

Join Williams College as we celebrate and reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.