MLK Commemorative Celebration

Florida International University values and honors the late, great Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for his efforts in fighting for civil rights. For more than 30 years, the MLK Commemorative Celebration planning committee has proudly brought world renowned civil rights activists and educators to speak at FIU.

FIU-MLK Day of Service

This event is a collaborative effort between the Center for Leadership and Service and the Centers for Student Engagement. Hundreds of FIU student volunteers are engaged in a one day project aimed at restoring and beautifying a targeted area in Miami-Dade County. Past project options included: Off-campus at Deering Estate - Beach Cleanup - Off-campus at Lotus House - addressing how we can support homelessness in women in children. Assisting operation team in cleaning, organizing, meal prep and serving food. On-campus at MMC - Operation Gratitude - supporting our first responders, veterans, deployed troops, and wounded heroes by showing we care. Crafting paracord bracelets and letters to be added to care packages. MLK Day of Service was held on January 13, 2024.

MLK Parade - FIU Contingent

Florida International University is committed to the ideas of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and we reach out to the local South Florida community in many ways. One of the most rewarding ways is by participating in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade that is held on 54th Street annually. FIU has been a long-time participant in the parade, and our contingent has grown to be one of the largest in the parade, with participation from our students, athletes, faculty, staff and administration. This event is free for FIU students, staff, alumni and administration.

 2024 Robert M. Coatie MLK Youth Forum Keynote Speaker

 

E-Crim-III

Mr. Ernest Crim III, Public Speaker, Educator and Author

Robert M. Coatie MLK Youth Forum

The MLK-Robert M. Coatie Youth Forum was hosted on January 17, 2024, at FIU's Biscayne Bay Campus. The Robert M. Coatie Youth Forum follows in the spirit of the MLK Commemorative Breakfast. While the focus is to target middle and high school students, the dedication is at the same level in bringing renowned speakers to inspire these youths to not only achieve their best, but to follow the ideals of Dr. King in their everyday lives.  

The 2024 Robert M. Coatie MLK Youth Forum keynote speaker was Mr. Ernest Crim III, who is an Anti-Racist Educator and hate crime survivor who uses (Black) historical narratives to empower and educate families and train educators through an equitable lens. Mr. Crim, a south side of Chicago native and University of Illinois graduate, is a former high school history educator of 12 years, who now teaches Black History to the world through social media with a platform that reaches over 2 million people monthly. Additionally, he is the CEO of Crim’s Cultural Consulting LLC, an international speaker, an author of two bestsellers (‘Black History Saved My Life’ and ‘The ABCS of Affirming Black Children’) and a passionate progressive education activist, who has been featured on ABC, WGN, PBS, CBS, NBC & Newsweek, amongst various other outlets. To Ernest, his purpose is to creatively strategize how we can use our past to create a better future, entrenched in equitable practices.

Past Robert M. Coatie Youth Forum Keynote Speakers

MLK @ The Frost - Kacey Jeffers, Multitudes

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Exhibition Series at the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum addresses issues of race, civil rights, and humanity to serve as a catalyst for dialogue and to enrich our community with new perspectives. Multitudes, Jeffer's first solo museum exhibition, covers various projects, largely centered on life in Nevis.