KU News Release

KU’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. tribute scheduled for Jan. 26

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas will celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a luminaria walk on Jayhawk Boulevard.

The luminaria walk will start at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, in front of Strong Hall. Participants will walk along Jayhawk Boulevard, reflecting on King’s legacy. The evening will end at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union with a performance by the Inspirational Gospel Voices and featured speaker Tyrone Bledsoe.

Bledsoe is executive director of the Student African American Brotherhood Organization, located in Toledo, Ohio. He founded the organization, which has more than 175 chapters in 35 states. The organization’s mission is to enhance the experiences of and instill a “spirit of care” in African-American males in high schools, colleges and universities around the country. Previously, Bledsoe was vice president for student life and special assistant to the president at the University of Toledo. He is a contributing author of “African American Men in College.”

Recently, Bledsoe was recognized by the American College Personnel Association as a Diamond Honoree for his contributions to the profession of student affairs in higher education. He is a life member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.

Bledsoe has been recognized by several professional associations for his research, publications, presentations and scholarly work. In 1999, he was invited to Oxford, England, to serve as a guest lecturer and discuss his work with African-American males at the Oxford University Roundtable Institute, which is sponsored by the British Council. He also was invited to join an international research team to address issues affecting men of color in Europe, Trinidad, Barbados and the Bahamas. He has appeared on talk shows such as “Perfect Union,” hosted by Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. to discuss his work involving African-American and Latino males.

“The Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center are proud of honoring one of the most prominent members of the civil rights movement,” said Robert N. Page Jr., director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs. “The Martin Luther King Jr. program will showcase the dreams, aspirations and goals of this great civil rights leader.”

KU’s Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center was founded to promote an educational environment that recognizes and celebrates the diverse composition of the Lawrence campus.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.