Advocate for racial and gender equality will give the keynote address at the MLK Jr. Regional Celebration on January 22nd, where six Midland County students will be honored with scholarships.
The Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu, an Episcopal priest and advocate for racial and gender justice, will deliver the keynote address, “Our Shared Humanity: Creating Understanding Through the Principles of MLK,” at the 16th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Celebration. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, at 7 p.m. in SVSU’s Malcolm Field Theatre.
Tutu was born in apartheid South Africa and is the daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Her experiences in South Africa and with her father — who received the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize — have influenced her path as an advocate and priest.
Tutu has been heavily involved in public service in both Africa and the United States. She worked as an economist and development consultant in West Africa and served as program coordinator for programs on race and gender and gender-based violence in education at the African Gender Institute at the University of Cape Town. She has also taught at multiple American universities. She currently serves as a priest associate at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Atlanta.
Educated in Swaziland, the U.S. and England, Tutu began her public speaking as a college student at Berea College in Kentucky when she was invited to speak at churches, community groups and colleges about her experiences growing up in apartheid South Africa.
In addition to preaching and speaking, Tutu established Nozizwe Consulting whose mission is to bring together disparate groups to learn from and celebrate their differences and acknowledge their shared humanity.
In addition to the address by Tutu, the MLK Jr. Regional Celebration will include the presentation of the Martin Luther King Scholarship to high school seniors from the region. Midland County’s honorees are Christine Cai, Chikanma Okoisor, Jessica Chai, Ayesha Middha, and Zunying Zhang from H.H. Dow High School, as well as Madeline Gustincic from Bullock Creek High School. The Midland Area Community Foundation, along with Bay Area Community Foundation and Saginaw Community Foundation award the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Scholarships annually to local students who have embraced Dr. King’s teachings on racial harmony and social justice.
Officials will also announce the winners of the Drum Major Awards, recognizing members of the Great Lakes Bay Region who advance King’s vision through their community involvement. Midland County’s Drum Major Award recipient is Dr. Kenneth Jolly. Dr. Kenneth Jolly exemplifies the spirit of the 2025 MLK Drum Major Award through his dedication to social justice and community empowerment. Jolly is a Professor of History and Chairperson of the Black Studies Program at Saginaw Valley State University, where he teaches courses in African American history, Africana Studies, Black Liberation Movements, the African Diaspora, and U.S. History. His contributions extend beyond academia into impactful community involvement in Midland County. A long-standing member of the Midland Area Cultural Awareness Coalition, Dr. Jolly has championed inclusion, respect, and justice, leading initiatives such as the “We Hear You” diversity assessment and the creation of Community Conversations training programs. He is also a steadfast volunteer for events like Juneteenth, Neighboring Week, and Global Diversity Month, where his passion for equity shines. Dr. Jolly’s efforts have uplifted marginalized voices, advanced cultural understanding, and promoted belonging, making him deserving of this distinguished honor.