History
On January 19, 1987, the official opening ceremony of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Cultural Center (MLKCC) took place. The ribbon was cut by four year old Saida Grundy. Under the leadership of Chester Grundy and the first Program Director of the center, Frank X Walker II, the MLKCC became the home away from home to many African American students at the University of Kentucky.
The MLKCC was established to contribute positively to the recruitment and retention of African-American students by aiding in the development of a more hospitable and supportive campus environment. To achieve this goal, the center offered a relaxed, yet stimulating environment where all students of the university came together to be enriched through diverse cultural exchanges. Today, the MLKCC has become the home to many traditionally under-represented groups exemplifying the high ideals and dreams of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The center's programming has served as a vital resource of cultural, educational, and social activities reflective of the diversity at the University of Kentucky. Programs such as lectures, concerts, workshops, seminars, exhibits, theatrical performances have broaden the university experience for thousands of students, faculty, staff and community members in the region.
