Events for 2023

MLK Day Teach-In

Four sessions on the theme, "The Fierce Urgency of Now," will be held Monday, Jan. 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the South Ballroom of the Bernhard Center. It is free to attend or watch live here. The event is co-sponsored by Office of Diversity and Inclusion and WMU Athletics. Contact the Walker Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnic Relations for more information.

  • Session 1, 11 a.m. to noon, "The Fierce Urgency of Now: Putting things in perspective.
  • Session 2, noon to 1 p.m., "The Fierce Urgency of Now: The effects of environmental racism."
  • Session 3, 1 to 2 p.m., "The Fierce Urgency of Now: Student advocacy, a panel discussion featuring current student leadership."
  • Session 4, 2 to 3 p.m., "The Fierce Urgency of Now: What are the next steps?"

An Evening with Jemele Hill

Join nationally acclaimed speaker, podcaster and journalist Jemele Hill for a conversation and community discussion at 6 p.m. on Monday Jan. 16, in Miller Auditorium. Tickets for the discussion are free but required and are available through the box office.

Sponsors include the include the Lewis Walker Institute, WMU Athletics and Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

An Emmy Award winning journalist, Hill is the co-founder of Lodge Freeway Media and a contributing writer for "The Atlantic." The Michigan native recently released her new book, "Up Hill." Her 20-plus year journalism career has included stops at the biggest sports media network and several reputable newspapers, including the Orlando Sentinel and the Detroit Free Press. Her profile gradually rose as she began to make appearances on television, including for ESPN.

In April of 2019, Hill debuted the podcast "Jemele Hill is Unbothered" on Spotify. The two-time Webby award-winning podcast features in-depth, thought-provoking conversation with newsmakers across entertainment, culture, music and politics. She also explores topical and controversial issues with humorous, candid commentary. In August 2018, the National Association of Black Journalists awarded Hill with a Journalist of the Year Award.