The January 26 event will feature a keynote from Theo E.J. Wilson that analyzes the challenges and opportunities of implementing DEI initiatives
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On Friday, January 26, 2024, at 8:30 a.m., UMass Dartmouth will host the 22nd Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast on campus at the Marketplace. This year's event theme is "The "Woke" Walk-Back: An Open Dialogue With Theo Wilson."
The tickets are $35.00 and are open to the public and the entire campus community. Proceeds from ticket sales will support student-centered diversity initiatives that create, affirm, and support an inclusive and welcoming community at UMass Dartmouth.
Speaking on this year's theme is Theo E.J. Wilson, an author, poet, and advocate for social justice. In the wake of social movements, 2020 ushered in an era of organizations making commitments to ensure their businesses were more equitable and inclusive. Now, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) positions face disproportionate austerity, and its leaders have either left their posts or are facing burnout. Using his humorous, witty, and tactfully truthful approach to tough issues, Wilson will address the current restructuring with an open, honest, and respectful dialogue on creating a mutually beneficial environment for all. He uses his humanistic philosophy to break the ice in today's often-charged conversation around DEI, allowing for an open, nurturing, and inclusive dialogue to truly understand the challenges DEI initiatives face today.
Known as "The New Black Klansman," Wilson is a founding member of the Denver Slam Nuba team, who won the National Poetry Slam in 2011 and began his speaking career with the N.A.A.C.P. at 15 and has always been passionate about social justice. Wilson is the executive director of Shop Talk Live, Inc. The organization uses the barbershop as a staging ground for community dialogue and healing. After viral video success in 2015, he published his first book in 2017, The Law of Action, which addresses some misconceptions about the law of attraction and direct action's role in manifestation. Wilson attended Florida A&M University, where he obtained his B.A. in theater performance.
The morning will feature a full breakfast, remarks from Chancellor Mark A. Fuller and UMassD students, and live musical performances. The event will be held at the Marketplace, located across from the Campus Center and above the Frederick Douglass Unity House. Parking is available in Lots 5 and 6.
The 22nd Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast is sponsored by the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. For questions, please contact Patricia Freitas at 508-999-8810 or pfreitas@umassd.edu.