2025 MLK Celebration Keynote Address: Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 4, 2025

Date: January 20, 2025
Time: Noon
Location: Viking Theater, Grand View University Student Center 

Join us for the 2025 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Keynote Address by The Reverend Dr. Guy D. Nave, Jr., a distinguished scholar, author, and public intellectual. This inspiring event will be held at Noon in the Viking Theater, followed by a service project in CJ's to put the spirit of Dr. King’s vision into action.

About The Reverend Dr. Guy D. Nave, Jr.:
Dr. Nave is a professor of religion at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where his research focuses on the intersections of religion, politics, and social justice. He is the author of several significant works, including contributions to True to Our Native Land: An African American New Testament Commentary and The Role and Function of Repentance in Luke-Acts, which is considered a standard scholarly work on repentance in the New Testament.

Dr. Nave’s work extends beyond academic scholarship, as he seeks to explore the deeper meanings of social justice and challenge systems of oppression—values aligned with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s mission. While many remember Dr. King for his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. Nave emphasizes that King’s legacy is about more than dreaming of a just world. Dr. King’s courage lay in his willingness to confront and challenge the systems of injustice, despite the personal cost of persecution and ultimately, assassination.

In his keynote, Dr. Nave will explore how honoring Dr. King’s legacy requires us not only to envision a just world but also to actively engage in dismantling unjust systems. His call to action will inspire us to take a stand for justice, just as Dr. King did. 

In the spirit of Dr. King’s commitment to social justice and community action, there will be a small service project following the keynote in CJ's. This hands-on opportunity will allow attendees to contribute to making a difference in our community, embodying the principles discussed in Dr. Nave's address.

We invite you to be a part of this meaningful event to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy and take tangible steps toward creating a more just world.