Martin Luther King (MLK) Week

At Northfield Mount Hermon, MLK Day is expanded to MLK Week, filled with learning and activities dedicated to the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., reflecting our commitment to inclusivity, learning for life, and service. 

From the school’s earliest days, “there's always been this acknowledgement of the importance of diversity, of having people coming from all over the country, all over the globe,” says NMH Dean of Equity and Social Justice Dr. James Greenwood. MLK Week is an important opportunity to reaffirm NMH’s commitment to inclusivity and justice.     

MLK Week 2026 included a community gathering to hear from keynote speaker Dr. Joshua Bennett, an award-winning poet and distinguished chair of humanities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an opportunity for students to connect Dr. Hajar Yazdiha, a sociologist at the University of Southern California and author of “The Struggle for the People’s King,” excerpts of which were used for an MLK Week teach-in day.

The week also included performances by the NMH Jazz Band and by the Camerata Baltimore gospel choir, whose members offered a gospel workshop and master class for students, faculty, and staff before their concert. In The Gallery at the Rhodes Arts Center, alums joined community members for a reception in honor of “Pieces of HerStory: A Fabric Collage Celebration of Black Women” by textile artist Kasandra Pantoja P’16, a collection of portraits of influential women of color from throughout history, many of them with NMH connections.

MLK Week concluded with the return of a beloved NMH tradition, the International Carnival, where students and faculty representing more than 20 countries, regions, and ethnic groups from across the globe shared food, art, and other parts of their cultures with the community.

Each year, MLK Week is planned by students, led by the Student Diversity Committee and with the support of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.