Centenary College celebrates Dream Week to honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.
SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary College will celebrate Martin Luther King Day and Dream Week from January 19 – 23, 2026. The week-long series of events is dedicated to honoring Dr. King’s legacy and promoting unity, justice, and community engagement. Led and organized by Centenary’s Diversity Committee, the Office of Innovative Learning and Inclusive Excellence, and their Associate Vice President Dr. Latoya Pierce, this year’s theme, "Forward Together," encourages reflection on collective progress and shared responsibility in building an inclusive future.
Since its inception in 2009, Dream Week has centered on community involvement and shared initiative. The first celebration included beautification activities at two local public schools, where volunteers helped clean the campus of Stoner Hill Elementary for the school’s inaugural MLK Jr. Service Day. Over the years, the celebration has grown to include keynote speakers, parades, documentary screenings, student art showcases, and various acts of volunteer service creating a vibrant platform for reflection, community building, and social impact.
The Krewe of Harambee parade kicks off Dream Week. Free transportation for Centenary students will be provided. Tuesday will feature a chapel service led by Rev. Kaylan Walker in Noel United Methodist Church. There will be a Dream Week Film screening at the Robinson Film Center. Once again, transportation will be provided to students. This year’s Dream Week program at Centenary uniquely features a keynote speech on Thursday by Dr. McKinley Melton, Associate Professor and Chair of Africana Studies at Rhodes College. The speech will be at 6:00 p.m. in Anderson Auditorium. Then on Friday, everyone can participate in a Stuff Swap event. Faculty, staff, students, and community members exchange gently used items on the Caf Deck next to the Bynum Commons building. Anything unclaimed will be donated to the Highland Center Thrift Store.
“One of my favorite quotes from Dr. King is, 'Time is neutral, it can be used either constructively or destructively’,” said Dr. Pierce as she reflected on the significance of the “Forward Together” theme. “This quote resonates with me because it helps us focus on how we spend our time, our energy, and our efforts. The Dream Week 2026 theme, ‘Forward Together,’ is a call for us to collectively examine how we travel together, how we make space for each other, and how we coexist in community and purpose.”
For a full schedule of events and activities, please visit our website at www.centenary.edu/dreamweek.
- Centenary senior Arionna Thomas ('26) contributed greatly to this article.