Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) welcomed students, faculty, and staff to its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast on January 22 at the Menifee Valley Campus, continuing a longstanding tradition of honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
The event opened with remarks from MSJC’s Political Science instructor Dr. Tolulope Babalola, who framed the morning around Dr. King’s moral courage and commitment to justice.
Two student voices were central to the program. Cara Ayitey, secretary of the Umoja Club and president of Qwueens, shared a personal reflection on first learning about Dr. King in elementary school while watching Selma. She spoke about the philosophy of love that anchors Umoja practices, noting, “We owe each other our authentic selves, and collectively, we owe that to society.”
German King, representing A2Amend, highlighted the Umoja principle of power and Dr. King’s use of freedom of speech as a tool for change.
The keynote address was delivered by Aaron Evans, a mathematics and computer science major from California State University, San Bernardino, and an accessibility expert. Evans received a standing ovation for an original poem inspired by Dr. King’s belief in living a complete life.
MSJC Superintendent/President Dr. Roger Schultz reflected on the importance of gathering as a college community, based on Dr. King’s words: “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
“Coming together for moments like this reminds us that education is not only about knowledge, but about humanity,” Dr. Schultz said. “When we gather as a college community, we recommit ourselves to leading with love, listening with intention, and caring for one another. These values strengthen our campuses and prepare our students to lead with compassion in a complex world.”
