Southeast Missouri State University will host the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Dinner on January 21. The celebration honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by bringing together faculty, staff, alumni, students and the community to continue Dr. King’s vision of unity and meaningful change.
This year’s theme is The Power of Education and the Value of Community with Adrian Taylor Jr., Th.D as the keynote speaker. Taylor is the founding pastor of Lighthouse United Church in Cape Girardeau, a multicultural, multi-generational, non-denominational church. Taylor is widely sought for his insight on leadership, grief, team building, race relations and spirituality. He and his wife, LaKenya, teach practical wisdom that helps individuals overcome pain and fear, empowering them to grow in faith and purpose.
Taylor holds a doctorate and master’s degree in theology from North Carolina College of Theology and serves as chaplain to both the men’s and women’s Redhawk basketball teams at SEMO. As an ordained and internationally recognized apostle and pastor, he has held significant leadership roles, including vice-chief apostle of the “Coalition of Interdependent Apostles” and the first African American president of the Cape Girardeau Ministerial Alliance. Taylor oversees a fellowship of churches and ministries focused on leadership development, church planting, missions and humanitarian outreach. He and LaKenya have been married for 25 years and live in Jackson, with their son, Joshua.
The celebration includes a free dinner and will begin at 6 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom. Registration is required.
For more information and to register for the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, visit semo.edu/mlk.