MLK Day of Service

MLK Day of Service Header

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service is a federal holiday that is also designated by Congress as a national day of service – a “day on, not a day off.” Stevens community members hear from various speakers discussing the importance of service, volunteer at local organizations, and reflect on Dr. King's legacy. MLK Day of Service is the largest event at Stevens dedicated to community service.

The 3rd Annual MLK Day of Service at Stevens will take place on Tuesday, January 16th, 2024. All students, faculty, staff and alumni are invited to register by January 8. This day-long event kicks-off with a community breakfast featuring internationally recognized young civil rights activist and movement strategist Tylik McMillan along with student performances, followed by an afternoon of impactful service activities. All volunteers are then invited to a celebratory closing reception featuring Assemblywoman Linda Carter M.S. '00, 22nd Legislative District and Stevens alumna.

Schedule of Events

Time

Event

Location

9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Check-in and service activity sign-up

University Center Lobby

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Community breakfast with keynote speaker, student performances, and oratorical contest winners ceremony

University Center Tech Flex Auditorium (overflow: University Center Gallery Room)

12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 

Service activities

Babbio Center and various locations in Hoboken

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Closing reception with keynote speaker and student performances

University Center Tech Flex Auditorium

This event is open to all members of the Stevens community and invited honored guests. Registration required.

Contact [email protected] with questions.

Service Activities

View all service activities for the 2024 MLK Day of Service

Featured Speakers

We are proud to announce the following keynote speakers will join our 2024 MLK Day of Service.

Tylik McMillanTylik McMillan

Internationally recognized young civil rights activist and movement strategist Tylik McMillan wishes to inspire other young people to get involved and make civic engagement the new norm, not the exception. Tylik works to educate lawmakers and stakeholders from the White House to corporate c-suites on the challenges and opportunities facing communities, by advocating for more resources and policies that help invest and advance economic and social equality.

Tylik helped organize the 2020 Commitment March on Washington and 2021 March On for Voting Rights which drew over hundreds of thousands to Washington DC and called for racial justice, police reform, voting rights protections, census participation and more. Recognized by Vice President Kamala Harris and the White House as a prominent young voice to help lead our nation forward, Tylik has also been recognized as a United States Black Chamber of Commerce 50 Under 40, Bloomberg 50 One to Watch, National Urban League Young Professional National Trailblazer, and been featured by Good Morning America, CBS Morning News, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, BBC, and BET among other global, national, and local outlets.

A native of Lawrenceville, Virginia, Tylik is a proud HBCU graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.

Linda CarterLinda Carter M.S. '00

Linda Carter has spent her entire career fighting for underprivileged and middle-class communities. She has served locally for nearly two decades, as a member of the Plainfield City Council and as a member of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders – earning a reputation as a bold progressive, and pragmatic trailblazer willing to take on a wide array of challenges that affect her communities.

Carter was appointed to the New Jersey General Assembly on May 24, 2018, representing the 22nd Legislative District (comprised of Union, Middlesex & Somerset Counties). Her appointment filled the vacancy left by the late Assemblyman Gerald B. Green, and she was subsequently elected in a special election on November 6, 2018.

She currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Science, Innovation, and Technology Committee, the Vice-Chair of the Higher Education Committee and is a member of the Law & Public Safety Committee. As a member of the Plainfield City Council, Assemblywoman Carter was a liaison to the Housing Authority, Board of Education, Cable Advisory Board, Chair of the Public Safety Committee and Neighborhood and City Services Committee. She served as Chair of the Committee and was quickly elevated to lead the Governing Body as Plainfield City Council President. Most recently Assemblywoman Carter was elected to serve as Secretary of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus.

Currently, Assemblywoman Carter is employed by the Passaic Board of Education as a High School Business Education Teacher. Prior to her career in education, she worked at AT&T in Access Management and as Portfolio Asset Manager for AT&T Credit Communication. As the only educator to serve in the New Jersey General Assembly, Linda Carter is proud to stand with the New Jersey Education Association to advance and protect the rights, benefits and interest of educators and to promote a quality system of public education.

Assemblywoman Carter earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore and holds a Master of Science degree in Management, Information Management from Stevens Institute of Technology. A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Assemblywoman Carter stands at the forefront of effective advocacy and social change.

MLK Oratorical Contest2024 MLK Oratorical Contest

The 2nd Annual MLK Oratorical Contest at Stevens hosted by the Phi Theta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is accepting online submissions through January 10, 2024. The purpose of the contest is to encourage oratorical skills among students and celebrate the legacy of renown orator, Civil Rights leader, and change agent, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.   

In addition to undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled at Stevens Institute of Technology, we are excited to invite all New Jersey and NYC middle and high school students to join the contest this year! One winner will be selected from each of the four educational categories (Middle School: Grade 6-8; High School: Grades 9-12; Stevens Undergraduate Students; Stevens Graduate Students). All four winners will be invited to perform at the Annual MLK Day of Service community event at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. 

Instructions:  

  • Record a 2-5 minute video with your delivery of one of the following options: 

    • One of Dr. King's speeches or known writings 

    • An original speech, song, or poem on the topic of Dr. King's legacy 

  • Upload your recording along with information about yourself to the Oratorical Contest submission form (click here) by January 10, 2024, at 11:59PM. 

Process:  

After reviewing all submissions, a panel of judges from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. will select the four oratorical contest winners on January 11. All winners, including up to 5 friends and/or family members, will be invited to attend the in-person MLK Day of Service celebration at Stevens on Tuesday, January 16. Each winner will deliver their winning submission in-person and receive their award at the event. 

Register for MLK Day of Service

Registration is now closed. However, all Stevens community members (regardless of registration) are invited to participate in on-campus service activities in the Babbio Center from 12:30-3:00PM.

Past MLK Day of Service Keynote Speakers

Sponsors

MLK Day of Service is brought to you by the Office of Student Culture and Belonging with thanks to generous campus co-sponsors: Athletics and Recreation, Office of Residential Education, Schaefer School of Engineering and Science, School of Business, School of Systems and Enterprises, School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, S.C.W. Library, Division of Student Affairs, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion | Office of the President.

We are grateful to our philanthropic sponsor, AmeriCorps, and their partners Engage NJ and The Partnership Alliance, for supporting Stevens MLK Jr. Day of Service.MLK Grant Sponsors