Members of the community are invited to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with Bridgewater College during its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, “Celebrating the Dream, Continuing the Journey,” in partnership with the town of Bridgewater.
The celebration will begin on Monday, Jan. 19 at 11 a.m. at Oakdale Park, 134 Mt. Crawford Ave. in Bridgewater. The march will begin with remarks from BC President David Bushman and Bridgewater Mayor Ted Flory, as well as a BC student.
At the conclusion of the march, guests are invited to enjoy a reception in the Boitnott Room, located in Rebecca Hall on the College’s campus. Participants are encouraged to park in the Kline Campus Center parking lot, 410 East College Street, and walk to Oakdale Park. A map of campus is available at bridgewater.edu/map.
Community members are also invited to join Bridgewater students in a service project from 1-3 p.m. at the Funkhouser Center, 117 College View Drive. Volunteers will work with organizers from Rise Against Hunger to package food for distribution around the world. Please register to participate in the food packaging event at events.riseagainsthunger.org/Bridgewater2026.
Part of BC’s observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an endowed lecture on Wednesday, Jan. 21, by author and educator Irshad Manji. She will give a talk entitled “Moral Courage: How to Make a Difference in a Messy World.” Manji is the founder of Moral Courage College, an organization that equips people worldwide to turn heated issues into healthy conversations and sustained teamwork. After her talk, Manji will sign copies of her latest book, “Don’t Label Me: An Incredible Conversation for Divided Times.” The endowed lecture is sponsored by the Anna B. Mow Symposium on Comparative Religious Ethics.
Manji’s talk will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Cole Hall on the BC campus. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and a book signing will follow. Parking is available in the adjacent Kline Campus Center parking lot, 410 East College Street, Bridgewater.
The parade, reception and endowed lecture are free and open to the public. In case of inclement weather, visit bridgewater.edu for information on cancellation.
Media Contact:
Heather Cole
Editor & Director of Media Relations
hcole@bridgewater.edu
1/7/26
