WSU Health Sciences to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy with multiple acts of service

The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Jan. 20, 2020, marks the 25th anniversary of the day of service that celebrates the civil rights leader’s life and legacy. Students, staff and faculty of WSU Health Sciences Spokane are planning several activities during the week to honor Dr. King. The campus Diversity Center and Office of Community Engagement are teaming up to sponsor these activities.

“Dr. King recognized the power of service and believed that everyone can be great because everybody can serve,” said Verónica Puente, assistant director for Community Engagement & Service Learning. “We take very seriously this opportunity to come together to serve community and celebrate bringing people together of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.”

Students, staff and faculty will attend the Martin Luther King Jr. march and rally in downtown Spokane on Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. This has been a tradition of the WSU Health Sciences Spokane campus for many years.

After the parade, WSU Health Sciences Spokane students will volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House of Charity from noon to 2 p.m. A separate group will attend Gonzaga University’s workshop titled, “Living as We Climb – A Teach-In on Voter’s Rights and Suppression,” from 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Gonzaga’s Hemmingson Center.

Events continue Jan. 22 when WSU Health Sciences Spokane hosts an internal workshop called “Deliberation: A Civic-Leader Tool for Community Building” at 11:30 a.m. The subject of the workshop is mental illness, and attendees will discuss ways to approach difficult issues like mental illness.

On Jan. 23, students, staff and faculty will have the chance to watch a broadcast of WSU’s MLK Community Celebration with W. Kamau Bell, in the campus Diversity Center. Bell will be speaking from WSU’s campus in Pullman. The event is free and open to the public and will be available to livestream.

Lastly, WSU Health Sciences Spokane will host a blood drive on Jan. 23 from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

WSU Health Sciences Spokane is deeply passionate about inclusivity. It is foundational to how the campus selects students, through its curriculum, via the partnerships it engages in and in the ways it serves. The campus supports the WSU Spokane Diversity Committee, a group of faculty, staff, and students committed to transforming the campus environment by challenging individuals and systems to create and ensure a climate inclusive of equity and diversity. There is also a Student Diversity Center where differences are celebrated, and the intrinsic value of every individual is recognized.