Love in Action: Honoring Dr. King
Each year the Wooster campus community takes time to engage in meaningful exploration and dialogue about issues that connect with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s work and vision on matters relating to civil rights, social justice, activism, responsibility, and engagement.
2026 Schedule of Events
Prayer Breakfast and Opening Ceremony
The gathering will offer space for reflection and community to kick off the day.
Justice Dialogues
- Room 060: Thinking with King in a Time of Monsters by Evan Riley, Associate Professor of Philosophy
- Room 140: “I’m Your Biggest Fear”: Diving into Fatphobia and Size Discrimination by Maddie Cuckow, Assistant Director of Residence Life
Justice Dialogues
- Room 060: “But if Not”: MLK, the Bible, and Civil Disobedience by Jeremy Rapport, Professor of Religious Studies
- Room 140: Understanding Today’s Immigration Crisis by Erika Vallejo, Assistant Professor of Political Science, and Michele Leiby, Professor of Political Science
Keynote Address given by Dr. Afiya M. Mbilishaka
Soup and Bread Lunch
Proceeds go toward lowering student lunch debt at Wooster City Schools
Jan. 23 : 5pm
See details below
Keynote Speaker
Photo by Kelvin Bulluck provided by the subject.
Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka is a licensed clinical psychologist, therapist, consultant, professor, research scientist, speaker, hair historian, and natural hairstylist. She is the founder of PsychoHairapy, an innovative and nationally recognized approach that uses hair care as an entry point into mental health and healing within Black communities. Her work boldly bridges beauty, science, and soul. Dr. Mbilishaka is also the owner of Ma’at Psychological Services, a private practice focused on promoting balance and restoring order in the lives of her clients. Her clinical and scholarly work centers traditional African cultural rituals and holistic mental health practices for contemporary contexts.
An Ivy League-and HBCU-educated scholar, Dr. Mbilishaka earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Howard University at the age of 26 after completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Africana Studies and Psychology at Wellesley College and serves as the Principal Investigator of the HAIR Lab with her student researchers. Dr. Mbilishaka has published over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles, 7 book chapters, and 3 books, and has presented her work at more than 50 universities and conferences nationally and internationally. She is a former President of the Association of Black Psychologists, DC Chapter, and has been recognized as a subject matter expert by both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, where she has testified in support of the CROWN Act, landmark legislation protecting against hair-based discrimination. She has trained hairstylists around the world to serve as mental health advocates and now leads international cultural and mental health–focused learning experiences.
Hygiene Drive
During the week of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Longbrake Student Wellness Center is collecting hygiene products to support OneEighty’s shelter cupboards. After the holidays, their need for essential items is especially high.
We welcome any hygiene products, including:
- Top Need: 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner
- Body Wash (please no bar soap)
- Razors (men’s and women’s)
- Shampoo and Conditioner
- Shaving Cream (men’s and women’s)
- Hand and Body Lotion
- Toothpaste and Toothbrushes
- Deodorant (men’s and women’s)
- Diapers
- Feminine Hygiene Products (Maxi Pads, Tampons, etc.)
Drop your donations in the baskets located in the Longbrake Wellness Center lobby throughout the week.
OneEighty is a Wooster-based community organization committed to providing care and reducing stigma for individuals experiencing trauma, mental illness, and substance abuse disorders. They focus on restoring dignity, reimagining potential, and rebuilding lives.