Jan. 5, 2026
Contact Carolyn Colleen Bostrack at carolyn@carolyncolleen.com or Rick Kyte at 608-796-3704 or rlkyte@viterbo.edu
LA CROSSE, Wis. – Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, the president of Sojourners and author of A More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community will present the keynote address at the La Crosse Community Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19 in the Viterbo University Fine Arts Center Main Theatre. The event will also be streamed live on Facebook at www.facebook.com/viterboethics.
Sojourners is a Christian organization dedicated to social justice, peace, and faith-driven activism. Taylor previously led the Faith Initiative at the World Bank Group and served as the vice president in charge of Advocacy at World Vision U.S. and the senior political director at Sojourners. He was also the executive director of Global Justice, an organization that educates and mobilizes students around global human rights and economic justice. He was a White House Fellow and served in the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs and Public Engagement.
Taylor is a graduate of Emory University, the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, and the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology. He is ordained in the American Baptist Church and the Progressive National Baptist Convention and serves in ministry at the Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, VA.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award, which honors individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership and commitment to building community, enhancing diversity, and working for justice in the greater La Crosse area, will be presented to Vince Hamilton. Early in his outstanding basketball career, Hamilton became a regional role model for his dedication and teamwork both on the court and through his outreach efforts. Through basketball clinics and school visits, he inspired young people to value teamwork and perseverance. Off the court, he launched two impactful outreach initiatives—“Do What’s Right,” which provides mentorship workshops that help local youth build confidence, develop leadership skills, and set positive personal goals, and “Don’t Do Drugs,” a campaign that organizes school visits and community awareness events to educate students about the dangers of substance abuse and promote healthy lifestyle choices. He has served as a volunteer coach for the YMCA for over thirty years and has helped develop many regional elementary, middle, and high school players who later became successful student-athletes and productive leaders in their communities. He has also served on the Board of Advisors of numerous community organizations. “I believe every life endeavor should hold a redeeming social value rooted in service to others,” Hamilton said. “I am most fulfilled working behind the scenes and on the front lines, supporting others. My highest life purpose and mission is to bring people together in unity and oneness.”
Courtney Chambers, a student employee at Western Technical College’s Student Place of Action, Culture, and Empowerment, will receive the William “Bill” Coleman College Award. In her role at Western, Chambers has supported programming that celebrates diversity and fosters inclusion, and serves as a mentor and advocate for students of color, helping them navigate challenges and amplify their voices. The William “Bill” Coleman College Award recognizes a young adult who embodies the spirit of Dr. King and demonstrates exceptional leadership in building community, enhancing diversity, and working for justice, either on a college or university campus or in the community.
The Lynda Blackmon Lowry Student Leadership Award will be presented to Amaya Emler, a sophomore at La Crosse Central High School. The award, which recognizes a high school student who is committed to building community, enhancing diversity, and working for justice, is named in honor of the youngest marcher in the historic 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, AL. Emler mentors elementary students in conversations relating to identity, leadership and community pride. She volunteers with BLACK (Black Leaders Acquiring Collective Knowledge), participating in community service as well as teaching and learning about food access and financial literacy. Through her example, “Amaya inspires others to get involved, care deeply and act boldly.”
Viterbo will also hold its annual MLK Day of Service, Learning, and Celebration Jan. 19. The university will honor Martin Luther King Jr. with a morning of community service followed by educational presentations in the afternoon.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration is organized by the La Crosse Community Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee, co-sponsored by a wide variety of community organizations, and hosted by Viterbo University. The event is free and open to the public. Taylor’s appearance is co-sponsored by the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University. The event is held each year to honor the legacy of America’s civil rights hero and icon.
For more information on this community-wide celebration, visit www.viterbo.edu/MLK.
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