Martin Luther King Jr. Initiative
The MLK Initiative: Let Freedom Ring! invites students, faculty and staff to participate in a range of events that celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Legacy of a Dream Award
The John Thompson Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award — named for the legendary Georgetown head basketball coach, Washington, DC, native, mentor, advocate and community leader — is awarded each year to an individual or group that has demonstrated outstanding service in the District in Georgetown’s Catholic and Jesuit tradition of being people for others.
2025 Legacy of a Dream Awardee: Paula C. Thompson, Voices for a Second Chance
Paula C. Thompson is the president and CEO of Voices for a Second Chance, a nonprofit that provides reentry support and resources to individuals navigating incarceration and reintegration. Paula has dedicated her career to dismantling barriers to reentry and creating transformative pathways for individuals returning to society.
Past Recipients
Georgetown Honors DC Leader Who Helps Low-Income Students Aim High with 2022 Legacy of a Dream Award
Khari Brown, a leader who’s helped hundreds of low-income students graduate and excel in the workforce, is this year’s recipient of Georgetown’s John Thompson Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award.
Georgetown awards food justice advocate Christopher Bradshaw with the 2021 John Thompson Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award for work through his Dreaming Out Loud nonprofit.
Let Freedom Ring Celebration
Each year, Georgetown and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a free musical tribute. The annual concert features a headlining performance by a legendary musical artist and special music by Nolan Williams, Jr., music producer and commissioned composer.
Community Events
Each year, Georgetown honors the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through a series of events on campus and in the greater Washington, DC, community that reflect the university’s Catholic and Jesuit values of contemplation in action, cura personalis — care of the person — and being people for others.