40 Years Later: Bentley’s MLK Celebration Then and Now

When Martin Luther King Jr. Day was first observed as a federal holiday in 1986, it established a national moment not just for commemoration, but for continued pursuit of justice. That same year, Bentley launched its own MLK observance — an event that has since grown into one of the university’s most beloved annual traditions.

What started as a dinner featuring a small group of student speakers has since evolved into a morning breakfast program and, since 2024, a full day of interactive sessions connected to Dr. King’s principles. 

Though the event’s success is the result of a collective effort, its roots tie back to Earl Avery, who joined Bentley as the new equal opportunity officer in 1985. “When I was offered the position at Bentley, I had a number of friends who questioned why I wanted to join a school where there are no people who look like me,” Avery says, noting that there were only a few dozen students, faculty and staff of color on campus. “But I saw that as an opportunity I didn’t want to run from, growing up in a family that paid a lot of attention to the Civil Rights Movement. It was in my blood.” 

Speaking Up, Speaking Out 

In the 1960s, Avery’s activism gained momentum when he attended the University of California, Los Angeles, and later Harvard. With it came a realization: the power of student voices. Those experiences stayed with him and inspired his approach to Bentley’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.   

“Dr. King’s work and his legacy are marvelous,” Avery says. “But I knew that if our students didn’t get up and do something — and all they did was to listen to speeches from faculty and staff — then what did we really accomplish?” 

One of the first Bentley undergraduate students that Avery met was Marie Harrelson-Eugene ’88, who was head of the Black United Body (BUB) student organization. “Marie and I talked about things that Bentley could be doing, and she told me that Black students didn’t have much visibility on campus,” says Avery, who took her feedback to heart. “If we were going to make progress as an institution, students would have to play a role in that. They had to be involved.” 

That belief was reinforced when two Black Bentley basketball players, Marcus Stewart ’92, MBA ’95 (now Bentley chair and professor of Management) and Alexander Hall ’93, used The Vanguard student newspaper to educate the campus community and address gaps in understanding, further underscoring the importance of student-led engagement and awareness. 

With that foundation in place, Avery approached then-President Gregory Adamian about his idea for an MLK celebration, and enlisted the support of Tony Bonapart, then vice president for academic affairs. A very strong advocate over the years was Darryl Poole ’68, who served as a longtime Bentley trustee (and later trustee emeritus) in the 1990s — and was the only Black trustee at the time. 

Bringing More People Into ‘the Tent’ 

About 100 people gathered for the inaugural MLK dinner in a LaCava conference room. The shift the following year to a breakfast program was aimed at gaining greater attendance from the campus community. Though Avery jokes that he was somewhat hesitant about students arriving for an early-morning event, giving them a meaningful role provided them with a sense of ownership and purpose tied to something greater than themselves.  

“I’ve always been a believer that when you work in a university, and you want to take on some very difficult subjects, you need the buy-in of students,” Avery says. “You also need them to be willing to get up and get involved. Martin Luther King said that if you want to make a change, then get up and start addressing the issue in a positive way. And he didn’t separate responsibility into certain races or groups.” 

Given the latter point, Avery adds: “One of the big changes at Bentley was having a body of students attend the breakfast; we couldn’t put it on 22 or 23 students of color. We needed to bring more people into the tent and get them to feel as much responsibility as the Black students, in ways that were meaningful for them.”

Honoring a Legacy Through Action 

Throughout four decades, the support system has extended beyond campus to alumni, community leaders and local school students.  

When the breakfast program moved to a fully remote format in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic, the MLK Committee incorporated a video component created by members of the university’s Marketing and Communications team. A video shown during the 2026 breakfast opened with an excerpt from Dr. King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, written on April 16, 1963. The powerful passage was performed by Nyla James ’26, bringing renewed voice and relevance to Dr. King’s words on justice, equality and moral responsibility. 

Check out Nyla James ’26 reading Dr. King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail. 

Video by Caleb Gowett

“We had the idea for video as a way to add something that wasn’t just speeches for the program,” says Matt Banks, MLK committee member and associate director in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. “It also allowed us to bring MLK’s words and legacy into the room with intention.” 

As the program grew, so did opportunities for students. Along with sharing personal statements, students have taken leadership roles, serving as event MCs, delivering the invocation and introducing keynote speakers. Members of the Black United Body student organization now hold a series of mini sessions. Bentley Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Center students showcase their research exploring race and racism. Others have taken to the stage for performances ranging from a dynamic drum solo to a rhythmic cultural dance number and reflective poetry reading.

At its 40-year mark, Bentley’s MLK Day of Celebration, Listening and Learning — held January 27 and themed “Linked in Hope, Purpose and Achievement” — had more than 1,400 registrations, and featured more than 40 sessions, ranging from student and business panels to artistic sessions and a talent show. The program’s evolution reflects the university’s commitment to honoring Dr. King’s legacy and inspiring broader conversations about equity and inclusion.

Named in honor and recognition of Avery’s role as a founding member of the campus event,  the Dr. Earl L. Avery MLK Leadership Award is given each year to two Bentley community members whose work has been consistent with the ideals of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of building inclusivity and opportunity for all identities.

Turning Experience into Impact 

Claudette Blot, director of the Bentley Multicultural Center, was often alongside Avery as a mentor and advocate on campus. The first MLK breakfast she attended, 34 years ago, is etched in her memory.  

“I remember being so impressed by the student statements,” says “Mama” Blot, who went on to become a longtime MLK Committee member and early advocate for a full day of MLK programming. “Through the years each Bentley president has brought their perspective to the program — service, community building, accountability — but we’ve always made sure that student voices are heard.” 

Mary Marcel, associate professor of Experience Design, agrees. Since joining the MLK Committee in the mid-1990s, she has worked with student speakers to polish their statements and practice presenting. 

“Bentley’s MLK celebration is a real showcase of our student talent, and I believe that goes back to Earl Avery’s original vision,” Marcel says. “Earl knew that one of the best things for the Bentley community was to see our thoughtful, inspiring, accomplished students of color stand up and lead the day. It’s a chance for them to share the personal impact of Dr. King’s legacy, words and examples. That is such a powerful thing.”

Storytelling as Advocacy 

Katie Penn ’96 remembers being asked to be a student speaker at the MLK breakfast in 1996. Having served as BUB president for three consecutive years, she was no stranger to activism on campus. Though grateful for the opportunity to speak, Penn admits that shaping her remarks required a deep dive into Dr. King’s legacy.  

“Growing up in the Caribbean, activists like Queen Mary [Mary Thomas] and Marcus Garvey were more common names for me than Martin Luther King Jr.,” Penn recalls. “So, I had to go and do a lot of research on Dr. King if I was going to authentically connect to him as a hero.” 

She read Dr. King’s speeches and dug deeper into chronicles about his activism. The process made a lasting impression.    

“It was inspiring to learn how dynamic and radical Dr. King was, but I don’t think I appreciated that until I had the opportunity to reflect on his leadership through this experience,” Penn says of preparing her speech. “It helped me to have a new appreciation and understanding of Dr. King, but also to articulate what that meant to me. It felt like a culmination of my activism on campus and a recognition of my voice.” 

Today Penn is Bentley’s vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer. A longstanding member of the MLK Committee, she aims to help student speakers experience the same kind of “pivotal moment” she did.  

“I encourage students to understand that they’re not just getting up in front of 400 people to tell their own story,” Penn says. “This is an opportunity, it’s a platform. Is there a call to action or something they want to ask this community to be thoughtful about?” 

It’s this kind of behind-the-scenes process that brings Penn, and many others on the committee, the most joy.  

“The part of the MLK celebration that I love, even more than the day itself, is the prep,” Penn says. “The first draft of students’ speeches is often what they think they’re supposed to say. But, to the extent that they’re willing, we help give them the confidence to let us into who they are to make space for their voice to emerge. That can take two drafts or six or seven, but when they figure it out and we do those last run-through practices, I get the chills.” 

Highlights from past Bentley MLK speakers. 

Video by Steve Salina

Evolution of a Dream 

As student participation grew and the program expanded, conversations about how Bentley marked the day began to shift — from a single gathering to something larger. 

“When we started that program, it was just a dream to have a full day event,” Avery says of early conversations with MLK committee members and other advocates on campus. “But we knew that the institution, the powers that be, weren’t ready to take that major step of extending the day. That commitment had to grow in importance.” 

Though the full-day program happened years after Avery’s retirement from Bentley in 2018, the evolution had begun during his tenure. In addition to seeing changes in personnel in different positions who were “more open to the whole notion of diversity,” he watched students become more empowered about issues happening on campus and across the country.  

“Students began to understand that if they did their homework and they knew how to present their arguments, they had a better chance of being successful,” Avery says. “It helped to raise their voice.” 

Setting aside the full day for programming, including cancelling classes, Avery adds, sends a strong message about the progress that Bentley has made.  

When asked what Dr. King would think, he pauses before answering. “He probably would be scratching his head asking why it took so long, but he would applaud Bentley for its efforts over the years to be more inclusive. Dr. King would feel very good about the growth in the students to act — something he always wanted people to do. And I believe that he would appreciate the notion that students have taken risks to speak out, and ultimately, the growth of the students, staff and faculty to come together and effect some real change at the institution.” 

Forty years after its first observance, Bentley’s MLK Day of Celebration, Listening and Learning reflects a tradition shaped by student voices and a growing commitment to inclusion and action. What began as a single gathering has become a full day of learning and dialogue, creating space for the campus community to come together and make change. For future generations of Bentley students, the day remains a call to speak up, take part and carry Dr. King’s legacy forward