Converse Community Honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Mission
Converse University enthusiastically supported the 38th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Week Celebration. The City of Spartanburg has celebrated Dr. King’s mission for more than three decades while educating and encouraging the community to commit to a more just and equitable world.
The weeklong celebration, spearheaded by the City of Spartanburg, includes a variety of volunteer opportunities, a unity celebration poster contest, and announcing the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Celebration YOUTH Humanitarian Award winner.
Converse President Boone J. Hopkins was the emcee at the Mayor’s Unity Breakfast on January 16, 2025, at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium.
The event featured performances by the Jazz Ensemble from Spartanburg High School, MLK Scholarship presentations, and wisdom shared by keynote speaker Honorable Donald W. Beatty, Retired SC Supreme Court Chief Justice. President Hopkins led an enlightening Q&A session, during which Justice Beatty shared his background, how he developed his interest and passion for the law, the lessons he learned during his impressive career, and his hopes for Spartanburg’s future.
Converse partnered with United Way of the Piedmont this year for MLK Day of Service opportunities on January 20. Converse students, faculty, and staff offered their time at several service sites throughout Spartanburg County, both on and off campus.
More than 100 students, faculty and staff participated, with the majority offering their time on campus to complete service work. Volunteers had various opportunities to help, from sanding and refinishing the teak furniture at Converse to writing letters of support to veterans in hospice and home-bound seniors.
Biology and Mathematics double major Olivia Liopiros ’25 (Nisbet Honors) said this was her first time participating. She shared how grateful she was to be part of the group which sanded and stained chairs, benches, and tables. “It was rewarding to feel like I was able to give back to Converse in some way,” Olivia said. “I enjoyed the fellowship while we worked. I look forward to seeing the ‘new’ benches and tables around campus!”
“There is no better way of coming together as a community than by doing service.”
Abeeha Sajid ’25
Studio Art major Donald Medley ’25 was also part of the team that helped beautify the campus. He took a great deal of pride in restoring the benches outside Williams dorm. Donald said, “This is my first time serving during MLK Day, and it gave me a sense of purpose.”
University Chaplain Eliza Smith DeBevoise and the Office of Spiritual Life coordinated the service components at Converse. Rev. DeBevoise said the event “was an excellent opportunity to remember a collective call to unity and give back to our community.”
Double Major Abeeha Sajid ’25 (Biology and Philosophy; Nisbet Honors) wrote supportive letters to veterans and home-bound seniors. Sajid said, “I think the best part of Converse is the community it offers, and there is no better way of coming together as a community than by doing service.”
Sajid discussed the correlation between this event and her Jan term Nisbet Honors class, Faith and Activism. In this course, Rev. DeBevoise, the class professor, spotlights the impact of small gestures like letters and thank-you notes, emphasizing that service or activism does not always have to be a grand, sweeping gesture; there are endless ways to make a difference.
“I loved learning about how every faith encourages and promotes service,” Sajid said. “I am glad that my class culminated with the chance to honor Dr. King’s legacy.” Sajid was even inspired to write thank you letters to presidents of the various Converse campus clubs.
Biology major Lanah Parker ’25 (Nisbet Honors) participated in the letter-writing component of the day and emphasized that this seemingly small action of writing a letter can have a significant result for both the writer and the recipient. Parker said, “While it might seem like a small thing, writing a letter filled with validation and kindness is no insignificant thing, as sometimes the world is a little short on kindness and empathy.”
Converse participants were invited to breakfast prior to heading out to their volunteer sites, followed by a word from speaker Davelyn Athena Hill, Executive Director of Speaking Down Barriers. This nonprofit organization based out of Spartanburg features encounters to build an equitable world through healing and justice.
Participation in local service opportunities like Unity Week not only reminds students of the power of community but also bolsters relationship-building and supports Converse’s mission to empower our students to become transformative leaders who see clearly, decide wisely, and act justly.