Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration

2026 Commemoration Summit

The Student Center for Inclusive Excellence is honored to welcome Mrs. Connie Matthews Harshaw, President of the Let Freedom Ring Foundation, as our keynote speaker for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration program taking place on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at the Sadler Center (Chesapeake).

Mrs. Matthews Harshaw will be connecting our campus to the roots and resilience of our local community as we bring our campus together for recommitment, collective learning, and meaningful action. We are also excited to partner with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC) for our closing plenary session, along with campus collaborators including Civic & Community Engagement, the School of Education, Conflict Resolution & Education, and Student Accountability & Restorative Practices.

Why a Summit?

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s enduring legacy, our university has traditionally gathered each year for reflection and inspiration. We have featured the likes of past keynote addresses from community leaders and historians (Ben Crump, Angela Rye, and Dr. Clayborne Carson), marches to the Hearth, and community dinners. While these events have energized our community, our students have left asking an important question: “What comes next?”

The Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Summit aligns with Innovation, Reconciliation, and Healing within the Inclusive Excellence Framework, where we “seek to bridge the past and future to celebrate heritage, honor legacies, and foster connection and understanding.” Hosting the Summit allows us to extend Dr. King’s vision into our own community while advancing the university’s core values of Belonging, Integrity, and Respect. Our goal is to offer students practical tools and transformative learning experiences that move them from motivation to commitment and action, equipping them to serve as architects of unity in the W&M community and beyond.

What to Expect

A keynote address and reflective film honoring local community legacy
Interactive workshops and facilitate learning experiences focused on:
- Community-Centered Leadership and Conflict - Leading through disagreement with skill, empathy, and accountability.
- Building Community Across Difference - Dialogue, connection, and community-building across identities, experiences, and perspectives.
- Restorative Practices, Repair, and Reconciliation - Approaches that rebuild trust, repair harm, and strengthen the community.
- Civic Engagement, Justice, and Social Change - Cultivating civic responsibility, advocacy, and ethical action in a polarized world.
- Identity, Belonging, Community - Exploring identity, lived experience, shared humanity, and Dr. King’s vision for the “Beloved” community.
An interactive plenary session focused on belonging and inclusive leadership skill
A closing commitment aligned with Civic & Community Engagement’s Civic Action Scorecard

Schedule at a Glance

Saturday, January 31, 2026 | Sadler Center (Chesapeake) | 10AM-2PM

9:30am - 10:00am	Registration & Breakfast
10:00am - 10:30am	Welcome & Opening Remarks
10:30am - 11:30am	Keynote Address & Short Film Clip
11:30am - 12:30pm	Breakout Session
12:45pm - 1:45pm	Lunch & Plenary Session
1:45pm - 2:00pm	Closing Commitment & Remarks

About Our Keynote Speaker & Plenary Facilitator

Mrs. Connie Matthews Harshaw

President, Let Freedom Ring Foundation

Connie Matthews Harshaw began her public service career with the U.S. Navy at the Newport News Shipyard in 1972 and retired in 2004 after thirty years of federal service as a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES). Her final role was Chief Operating Officer at the National Capital Planning Commission, where she became the agency’s first female African American SES member and earned a commendation from President Clinton. She led negotiations for the site parameters of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in 1999. Ms. Matthews Harshaw holds a BS in Business Management and an MBA from the University of Maryland and was a Senior Executive Fellow at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She currently serves as President of the Let Freedom Ring Foundation and is a respected civic and community leader in Williamsburg.

Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC)

Achieving Success Through Inclusion

The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities’ commitment to fostering understanding and respect dates back to its founding in 1935. Today, VCIC plays a key role as an educator, bridge-builder and long-term partner for individuals, institutions, and communities seeking to achieve success through inclusion. Their programs bring powerful and transformative learning experiences to over 15,000 Virginians each year, and evaluations consistently demonstrate effectiveness in raising knowledge, motivation, and skills.

Registration

Advance registration is requested to support an interactive experience. Register by January 28, 2026.

MLK Jr. Commemoration Summit 2026