Dear Students and Colleagues, 
 
As we start the semester, we also prepare for an important day of reflection and service. On Monday, Jan. 19, the Temple community and the nation celebrate the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and achievements. As we remember Dr. King’s steadfast commitment to racial equality, justice and nonviolence, we also honor his legacy by engaging with our neighbors and participating in community service.  
 
In that spirit, I want to remind you that Temple will serve as the host for Global Citizen’s 31st annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service’s regional signature project. This is the first time in more than 15 years that this special event will be held at Temple, and we are delighted to host dozens of events on campus. 

In celebration of Dr. King, I encourage all members of the Temple community who are able to do so to volunteer during this annual MLK Day of Service through TUportal. You may volunteer on campus in McGonigle Hall—where MLK Day of Service events will be coordinated—with other Global Citizen partners off campus or in your own communities. Simply log your project in TUportal so your hours are captured. And remember, you can also stay civically engaged all year through our Owls for Philly program. All are invited to join us as Governor Josh Shapiro and Mayor Cherelle Parker help us kick off the day of service at 9 a.m. in McGonigle Hall. 

Additional Programming 

Thursday, Jan. 15

1 p.m.: The Temple community is invited to attend IDEAL’s 2026 MLK 365 annual brunch, Truth in Tension: MLK’s Blueprint for Civic Discourse, in the Tuttleman Learning Center. MLK 365 is a gathering for students, faculty, staff and community members featuring a keynote on the Beloved Community, an intergenerational panel on civic issues, music and networking to connect, reflect and engage with ongoing MLK 365 initiatives. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

5–7 p.m.: Award-winning journalist and Klein College Professor Linn Washington Jr. will lead a powerful keynote evening exploring the role of storytelling in movements for justice. This event will be held in the Medical Education and Research Building at the Health Sciences Center campus.

Monday, Jan. 19

• MLK Day of Service events. Please see the full listing of events. 
• 11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.: The Klein College of Media and Communication will hold its ninth annual reading of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the Bell Tower. The reading, which is open to all members of Temple and the broader community, begins right after the noontime bells and is an opportunity for us to join in reflecting on this historic speech and Dr. King’s teachings. 

There is also a collection for Project HOME with two ways to support the organization’s food pantry and teen after-school program. 

• Helen Brown Community Center food pantry: Contribute shelf-stable food and canned goods that will be distributed via the pantry to community members. View wishlist here. 
• Honickman Learning Center Comcast Technology Labs: Contribute snacks for students who are part of the after-school programs. View wishlist here.

Donations can be dropped off at the IDEAL office, located inside Tuttleman Learning Center, 1809 N. 13th St., Suite 100, now through Jan. 20. 

At the heart of Temple’s mission is a commitment to service and civic engagement. Thank you for the many ways in which you will support this mission both on Monday and throughout the year. 

Sincerely, 

John Fry 
President