New Look MLK Day Celebration To Feature UD Alumna
Photo via tejaljarrae.com
Riley Howell | Contributing Writer
The University has picked an award-winning alumna to deliver a revamped MLK Day Celebration that will be a departure from past campus-based commemorations of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
For decades, UD has remembered King with ceremonial events grounded in themes of justice and community. From prayer services at the on-campus MLK monument to campus-wide addresses held by the Multi-Ethnic Education and Engagement Center and participating in a community march, the University remains committed to upholding his legacy.
This year’s MLK Day celebration, to be held Jan. 20 and 21, highlights storytelling as a means of justice through the theme, “The Rhythm of Values: The Spirit of Justice”.
Te’Jal Cartwright, a UD alumna and award-winning journalist and social media personality, will emcee a self-service brunch on Jan. 20, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., in the Kennedy Union Ballroom. No tickets are needed for the brunch that is open to students, faculty, staff and the Dayton community, according to the University.
Cartwright’s selection as emcee reflects the University’s core values of community and connection. She is executive producer and host of What’s the Biz with TJ, a digital platform launched in 2018 to highlight stories of Black-owned businesses in Dayton and across the country. Her work has increased visibility for more than 100 black-owned businesses in the city. She has also formed partnerships with the Greater West Dayton Incubator and Launch Dayton to connect local entrepreneurs with resources for success.
Her community work also branches into personal and civic storytelling. In 2022, Cartwright launched Moments of Clarity, an Instagram Live series that covers mental health, personal identity, and community togetherness. She is also the owner of Lore Storytelling, where she works with organizations, educational institutions, and community groups to spark change in the Dayton community.
Flyer News was unable to connect with Cartwright for this report.
Merida Allen Tate, associate dean of students, executive director of the Multi-Ethnic Education and Engagement Center, and co-chair of UD’s MLK events committee, did speak with Flyer News about this year’s special guest.
“We look forward to bringing Te’ Jal’s passion for community-building and using storytelling as a way to foster transparent conversations to our UD community,” Allen Tate said in a statement published on the University’s website. “She believes storytelling creates a powerful opportunity for self-awareness, and she will challenge our audience to reflect on themselves and the impact they can have on the world.”
Editor’s Note: Riley Howell is enrolled in the Flyer News Practicum, which offers students experiential experiences in the journalism arts. The Practicum, an elective in the Department of Communication curriculum, College of Arts and Sciences, is offered fall and spring