Toledo Mayor, UToledo President Invite Community to 19th Annual Unity Day Celebration Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz and University of Toledo President Sharon L. Gaber today invited community members throughout northwest Ohio to the 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Day Celebration.

The 19th annual Unity Day Celebration, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20 in Savage Arena on the UToledo Main Campus. A free community breakfast will be served to begin the celebration. This year’s theme of “Dream, Believe, Do” helps connect Dr. King’s iconic dream of freedom and equality with the belief and action needed to help make it a reality. As part of the celebration, winter care kits will be packaged by community members for donation to Lucas County Children Services.

“At a time when our nation seems as divided as it has ever been, I encourage all Toledoans to join in the celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., whose life’s work was dedicated to bringing people together and finding common ground,” Mayor Kapszukiewicz said. 2

“As the city of Toledo’s University, we view outreach and education as a critical part of our mission,” President Gaber said. “The UToledo community is proud to partner with our neighbors in celebrating Dr. King’s legacy.”

Alexis Means, reporter for WTVG 13 ABC, will be master of ceremonies for the Unity Day Celebration. The program will feature the awarding of scholarships, songs, dance, and spoken word performances by UToledo students, the UToledo Blue & Gold Pep Band, UToledo TRIBE Dance Team, students from Toledo School for the Arts, and Alicia Russell, soprano with the Toledo Opera.

Recipients of UToledo’s Martin Luther King Scholarship, awarded each year based on academic excellence as well as civic and community service, will also be recognized.

The Unity Day Celebration is organized by a committee co-chaired by Sara Dastagir, assistant to Mayor Kapszukiewicz, and Dr. Willie McKether, UToledo vice president for diversity and inclusion and vice provost.

The 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Day Celebration is made possible by support from Crestline Paving & Excavating, the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, First Federal Bank, the Multifaith Council of Northwest Ohio, The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium, the Northwest Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council, the United Auto Workers Community Action Program Council, Smoot Construction, Kokosing Construction Co., NAACP Toledo, Toledo Edison, Huntington Bank, Taylor Automotive Dealerships, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Zeta Alpha Omega Chapter, Operation Warm, Buckeye Community Arts Network, and Buckeye Broadband.

Since 1872, The University of Toledo has been empowering and preparing driven individuals to make an impact on the world. A public, comprehensive research university located in Toledo, Ohio, UToledo powers opportunity for nearly 20,000 students in 230 academic programs. Our campuses are energized by more than 400 student organizations and our NCAA Division 1 Toledo Rockets. We are known for ground-breaking research in astronomy and astrophysics; solar energy, water quality and sustainable technologies; and cell architecture and dynamics. Learn more about how UToledo is fueling tomorrows at utoledo.edu.