Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Week at Doane University was not defined by a single event or speaker. Instead, it was shaped by a coordinated, campus-wide effort that brought together students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners in Lincoln and Crete.
“Everyone has heard of Dr. King, regardless of race, politics or spiritual beliefs,” said Dr. Catherine Archie, Ed.D. ’25, director of Doane’s Lincoln Campus. “He stood for peace, love and community, and that matters, especially right now.”
This year’s programming was led by a cross-campus committee structure designed to distribute leadership and encourage broad participation. Luis Sotelo and Marivelle Magaña steered the overall planning committee. Jaden Hilkemann, '25 chaired the programming committee and Michael Stehlik '07 chaired the marketing committee. Dr. Catherine Archie chaired the community service committee.
Together, the team coordinated a week of service initiatives, dialogue opportunities and civic engagement activities.
“It took teamwork to make this all happen,” Dr. Archie said. “When we all come together for a greater cause, it shows how amazing Doane can be.”
Service initiatives were a central focus. The Community Service Committee organized a virtual food drive, a hygiene drive, a book-bundling project, voter registration efforts and a screening of The Great Debaters.
Through a partnership with Linked2Literacy, faculty and staff bundled books for distribution to Title I schools and shelters in Lincoln. The university matched a set dollar amount to support the purchase of books. Each bundle included at least one title centered on Dr. King’s legacy.
A hygiene drive in partnership with the Lincoln Hygiene Network exceeded expectations and was extended due to continued donations. Participants in the virtual food drive purchased items online to be shipped directly for donation.
Civic engagement opportunities included voter registration drives on both campuses. Representatives visited the Lincoln Campus, while a lunch-hour registration opportunity was hosted in Crete.
The week began with a candlelight vigil that brought together more than 100 students and staff. The vigil included the reading of Crete Mayor Dave Bauer’s Dr. King Week Proclamation delivered by Community Assistance Director Marilyn Schacht and remarks by students DaMarcus Cannon and Dwight E. Porter, Professor of Education Dr. Marilyn Johnson-Farr. Reverend Dr. Karla Cooper delivered the keynote address. Quinn Chapel Choir provided the music and Doane alum Dr. Jamar Dorsey, Ed.D. ’21, an Omaha-based adjunct faculty member who has remained involved in MLK Week programming in recent years, concluded the evening with a call to action.
Partnerships beyond campus also played an important role. The NAACP Lincoln Youth Council, which regularly meets at Doane’s 
Lincoln Campus, hosted its annual MLK Week potluck celebration on site for the third consecutive year. Nearly 70 attendees gathered for the event, making it the largest yet.
The university provided space for the gathering, and Dr. Archie participated as a guest speaker alongside Dr. Dolores Simpson-Kirkland, a longtime Lincoln community leader and advocate. Drawing from her own experience as a former member of the NAACP Youth Council, Dr. Archie encouraged students to recognize their capacity for leadership and long-term impact.
Dialogue was another key theme throughout the week. Events such as The Longest Table brought together approximately 40 students, faculty and staff for guided conversations on the Crete and Lincoln campuses designed to encourage open discussion across differences.
“Unity does not happen automatically,” Dr. Archie said. “It takes effort and commitment.”
Across both campuses, MLK Week reflected shared ownership rather than individual recognition. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members contributed time, energy and expertise to ensure the week honored Dr. King’s legacy through tangible action.
By the end of the week, the impact was measured not only in donations collected or events attended, but in the visible collaboration across roles, departments and campuses.
“This work is about showing up,” Dr. Archie said. “That is how change happens.”
