2023/2024 Calendar of Events

 

All events are open to the public and most are free to attend - everyone is welcome!

 

Saturday, November 18, 2023
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Scholarship Fundraiser

6:00 pm Social & Silent Auction
6:45 pm Dinner, dessert reception to follow the program
Elliott Student Union Ballrooms
500 S. Holden St, Warrensburg, MO

Purchase Tickets and Sponsorships

Hosted by the Center for Multiculturalism and Inclusivity at the University of Central Missouri, the MLK Freedom Scholarship Fundraiser will feature student performances and a silent auction to raise funds for the Martin Luther King Freedom Scholarship, which assists students who are often from underprivileged backgrounds in their pursuit of higher education. Scholarship funds raised through this event will be presented to students at the Freedom Scholarship Banquet, held on January 16, 2024.

When registering for this fundraiser, you'll see some levels have built-in pre-registration for the Freedom Scholarship Banquet in January. Can't make this fundraiser event? Click here to purchase tickets for the January banquet.

 

Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Chamber Community Service Awards Luncheon

11:45 am - 1:00 pm
American Legion Post 131
733 E. Young St., Warrensburg, MO
Cost: $15 for Chamber members, $20 for non-members

Hosted by the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce, this annual luncheon honors the recipients of the Community Service and High School Community Service awards.

Speaker: Pastor Joel Kurz, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Warrensburg

Joel was born in Tennessee to a long line of pastors and nurses. While still an infant, his missionary pastor-father and nurse-mother returned for another post in the Philippines, and there he spent his first seven years of life. Beyond that, his youth was spent in St. Louis County, Missouri, and South-Central Texas, where he graduated from high school. Joel attended The College of the Ozarks (working in the landscaping department) and graduated with a B.A. in English, then worked for a year as a CNA at a residential facility for the disabled in Wisconsin while learning Greek and Hebrew. Joel attended Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and graduated with an M.Div. in 1997, having done internships in Baltimore, Maryland, and Pensacola, Florida.

Following four years as a pastor in Youngstown, Ohio, he returned to Missouri and cared for his father during the last six years of a debilitating illness. Since 2007, Joel has been the pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Warrensburg. It has been his honor and privilege to serve the members of that congregation and this community in various capacities in the past sixteen years, especially in partnership with others to care for the natural world and fellow human beings in distressing and difficult circumstances. He has been on the board of a small international relief agency for over a decade—having made several trips to Uganda—and is currently serving as a conduit for Ukrainian refugee assistance happening through partner congregations and agencies in Germany.

Joel’s poetry and essays have appeared in numerous journals over the years, and he is an avid runner, hiker, reader, gardener, and cook. He aims to live in gratitude and attentiveness, knowing that life is best when shared with others for the common good.

From the 2023 Luncheon: Sydney Burden, a Knob Noster High School student, and the Brandon and Monica Mitcheltree family, Warrensburg, were honored on Jan. 11, 2023 with Community Service Awards. Participating in the awards ceremony were, from left, Suzanne Taylor, Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce executive director; Sydney Burden, High School Community Service Award recipient; Grace Mitcheltree; Leam Mitcheltree; Brandon and Monica Mitcheltree, Community Service Award recipients; Dr. Lover Chancler, director of the UCM Center for Multiculturalism and Inclusivity; and Suzy Latare, Chamber board chair.

 

Sunday, January 14, 2024
Community Praise and Worship Service

3:00 pm
Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church
212 N. Main St., Warrensburg, MO

Come together for this service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose faith was the foundation of his activism. Enjoy performances from choirs and other groups from throughout the community!

Monday, January 15, 2024

MLK Celebration - Lee's Summit Campus

6:00-7:30 pm
The Pavillion at John Knox
520 NW Murray Rd, Lee's Summit, MO

Join others in the Lee's Summit community for a celebration that will include faculty and student awards and the presentation of the MLK Art Contest award to a Lee's Summit R-VII student.

Contact Rick Smetana at smetana@ucmo.edu for more information.

 

Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Let's Talk: "Empathy Revolution: Walking in Others' Shoes"

12:00-1:00 pm
Elliott Student Union 306 & virtual

Contact Esosa Akele at exa89890@ucmo.edu for more information.

Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Scholarship Banquet

5:00 pm Doors open
6:00 pm Event begins
Elliott Student Union Ballrooms
500 S. Holden St., Warrensburg, MO

Purchase Tickets

Join us to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy of bold action in pursuit of justice, inclusion, and the beloved community. Meet this year's Freedom Scholarship winners, enjoy vocal and dance performances from UCM and community members, view works of art by local students inspired by Dr. King’s message, and enjoy the presentation of the 2024 MLK Freedom Scholarships.  Heavy hors d'oeuvres served. All funds raised at this event go directly to deserving UCM undergraduate students through the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Scholarship.

 

Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Volunteer Fair

11:00 am-1:00 pm
Elliott Student Union atrium

Visit with a wide variety of our community partners looking for YOU to help fulfill their mission!

Contact Kristie Brinkley at kbrinkley@ucmo.edu with questions.

 

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Day of Service - Warrensburg Campus

10:00 am-4:00 pm
Elliott Student Union Ballrooms

You don't have to be at the event for the entire time, so feel free to select the time slot(s) that is most convenient for you!

Register Here

Registration for the event closes on Friday, December 8, 2023 at 11:59 pm.

For more information or questions, please contact Kristie Brinkley at kbrinkley@ucmo.edu.

 

Day of Service - Lee's Summit Campus

Date, time, and location TBA

 

January 23-24, 2024
Community Service Blood Drive

10:00 am-4:00 pm
Elliott Student Union Ballrooms

Give the gift of life! Appointments preferred; walk-ins accepted as time and available staff allow. When information is finalized, registration will be available online. 

Contact Kristie Brinkley at kbrinkley@ucmo.edu with questions.

 

 

For more information about UCM's MLK Celebration, please contact Dr. Lover Chancler at 660-543-8049 or chancler@ucmo.edu.