Charger Community Honors Legacy of MLK and Celebrates the ‘Voices & Hands’ that Embody his Vision

There was a palpable energy felt inside Bucknall Theater during the University of New Haven’s fifth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.

“There is a spirit in here, a profound heaviness, but a good heaviness,” said keynote speaker Eric Clemens, CEO of ConnCAT & ConnCORP, and a visionary nonprofit leader.

This year’s theme, “Voices and Hands: Empowering Our Beloved Community,” was meant to call on the University community to embody Dr. King’s vision of a “beloved community,” by “uniting our actions and voices to build bridges across differences and bring hope to our world.”

At the start of the program, President Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D., called on all University community members, especially our students, to reflect on their “moral ideals and to keep dreams alive.” He encouraged students to challenge each other to remain hopeful and committed to action.

“Never forget that every act of compassion, every gesture of understanding, every sign of care, no matter how small or seemingly overlooked, helps build what Dr. King referred to as the ‘beloved community’,” Frederiksen said. “That vision, and the role we each have in realizing that vision, is what will light the way to a brighter future.”

A highlight of the annual MLK Celebration includes honoring members of our Charger Community who demonstrate a commitment to the ideals and values of Dr. King with a series of awards.

Janet Garcia-Hallett, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, was one of three recipients presented the Martin Luther King, Jr. Vision Award.

“When we talk about vision and dreams, I always think about where mine started,” said Dr. Garcia-Hallett, who is a first-generation college student, a first-generation American, and an Afro-Latina woman, who grew up in Harlem, New York.

She said she was raised with a keen understanding about the power of advocacy and community, especially during difficult times.

“Dr. King reminded us that a dream requires vision, courage, and action,” she said. “For me, that vision and action have more recently taken shape in Blossoming Beyond Bars,” a wellness conference she has helped lead for women who have been impacted by the prison system.

Dr. Garcia-Hallett’s community-based social justice work has had a significant and far-reaching impact on the lives of formerly incarcerated women. One of her most notable works is her book, “Invisible Mothers,” which explores the way in which these women navigate re-entry into the community with limited support.

“May we all continue to use our voices and our power to build a community where dreams are not deferred, ignored, or blocked all together,” she said. “But instead are realized despite the color of our skin, despite our zip codes, or despite the length of our record.”

For Anita Omary MPA ’26, another MLK Vision Award recipient, the “Voices and Hands: Empowering Our Beloved Community” theme spoke personally to her life journey.

Growing up in Afghanistan, Omary said she and her sisters faced constant criticism for going to school and seeking an education.

“Those voices were loud, painful, and discouraging, and, at times, they made us feel estranged and deeply discouraged,” she said.

She remembers her father telling her not to worry about the voices that criticize today, saying, “one day the same voices will rise in your support; the same hands that question you now will respect you. When the results come, people will understand.”

Omary went on to say his words taught her an important lesson, that “voices can discourage, but they can also change. Hands that once point in doubt, can later lift others up.”

She said the MLK Vision Award isn’t just for her, but everyone who continues their work despite doubt, criticism and barriers.

“As a graduate student in Public Administration and a former refugee from Afghanistan, Anita has transformed her lived experience into a source of strength and innovation, using her voice and leadership to uplift marginalized communities both within and beyond the University of New Haven,” wrote an individual who nominated Omary for an MLK Vision Award.

In addition to being a graduate student and involved in the University community, Omary is a dedicated human rights advocate whose work centers around the rights of women and children, and advocating for refugees and immigrants.

Charmi Bharatkumar Desai, MPH ’26, was in the audience at the MLK Celebration event in 2025 and said hearing from the individuals who were receiving the Vision Awards gave her the motivation and encouragement to hopefully stand in that same spot one day.

“The beloved community that Dr. King talked about reminds us that being a part of something inclusive doesn’t always mean being welcome, but it also means being valued and empowered,” she said.

As an international student, she said her journey has been full of uncertainties, ups, and downs, but also hopes and dreams. However, she said the UNewHaven community has always given her encouragement and motivation that aligns with this year’s MLK Celebration theme.

Desai was nominated by multiple people for a Vision Award, all of whom outlined her leadership, service, and dedication across Charger Nation and beyond.

“Charmi Desai has built an extraordinary record of leadership, service, research, and community impact that spans public health practice, student success, and national advocacy,” an individual nominating her for the award wrote. “Her work demonstrates influence at the community, institutional, and national levels, and her commitments align directly with the award’s focus on leadership, service, social justice, and empowerment.”

The unwavering support of the University of New Haven by Martin “Marty” O’Connor, ’76, M. Div, J.D., was just one of the many accolades spoken about him as he was this year’s recipient of the Philip H. and Susan S. Bartels Advocacy, Leadership, & Service Award.

“This year’s winner is someone too modest to utterly humble a man to acknowledge how much strength he gives us just by the decency of his life among us,” David Schroeder, Ph.D., interim dean of the Henry C. Lee College, said introducing O’Connor, who first came to the University as a student, earning his B.A. in 1976.

“During those 50 years, Marty has been unwavering in his support for the Charger Community,” Dr. Shroeder said.

Prof. O’Connor said it was a great privilege to receive an award that is given in honor of Dr. King.

His speech centered around an old Latin phrase that means, “In the middle of things,” which he said is how Dr. King lived his life and fulfilled his calling during tumultuous times.

“His vision, his zeal, his devotion to the principles of non-violent, direct engagement, provide us with examples that all of us will need as we confront and deal with the conflicts and issues of our own tumultuous time,” Prof. O’Connor said.

The award he received bears the name of the Bartels Family, which has provided “extraordinary support to our University for decades,” starting with family patriarch Hank Bartels, who Prof. O’Connor said he knew very well.

“My long association with UNH has provided me with opportunities for growth, for service, for enjoyment, for which I will always, always be grateful,” he added.

“Marty O'Connor is a true champion of student-centered learning and a passionate supporter of this University and all that it stands for,” a nomination submitted on his behalf read. “He carries forward the great teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders who seek justice, kindness, and service.”

Two undergraduate students were this year’s recipients of the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship, which is given to students who “embody the spirit of service.”

What drives Antwain Johnson ’29 in his achievements and contributions are a, “commitment to leadership, service, and uplifting my community, values that reflect the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr,” he said.

A New Haven native, Johnson lost two cousins to gun violence, which pushed him to choose unity, peace, and action, over anger.

“Instead of letting that pain define me, I used it as motivation to become a leader and an advocate for the youth around me,” Johnson said.

He has been heavily involved throughout his academic career, pursuing mentorship and leadership roles, and has been active with the New Haven-based youth empowerment organization Ice the Beef.

“No matter the role, I lead with empathy, respect, and purpose” he said. “I focus on creating spaces where people feel heard and supported because that’s how strong communities are built. Whether I’m planning a school event, helping a teammate, or supporting younger performers, I strive to lift others and bring people together.”

Dorion Levy ’28, is pursuing a degree in criminal justice, not just for a job, but for a purpose.

“It is my desire to use my voice for those who have had theirs silenced, ignored, or wounded in a way that calls itself just. Levy said.

It’s the story about the “Central Park Five” that has always stuck with Levy.

The story is about five black and Latino teens who were wrongfully convicted of raping a woman in New York’s Central Park in the late 1980s.

“Learning about their story, it shook me to my core,” Levy said. “And it forced me to face the uncomfortable truth that in America that sometimes justice is not blind and sometimes fairness is not guaranteed,” Levy said. “As a young Black man, looking at their faces, I looked at mine, too. And it made me wonder what it would be like to be interrogated, tried, and punished for something you don’t know anything about just because the world sees the color of your skin instead of the humanity in you. Learning about their story broke my heart, woke me up. Injustice doesn’t right itself. Somebody has to fight it.”

In 2024, Levy was awarded the Drum Major for Justice Award from the American Federation of Teachers’ Human Rights. This award, inspired by words spoken by Dr. King, celebrated Levy’s work with students, particularly students of color, in making sure their voices were heard when it came to decisions being made about their education.

While accepting that award recognized Levy’s work, he said it also reminded him of his own responsibility.

“My story is an expression of Dr. King’s legacy in that I believe in ‘speaking truth to power’ and in being a ‘drum major for justice’ in the face of adversity and in spite of the obstacles that surround me,” he said.

This year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration also included a wide range of community service initiatives that were hosted by various RSOs (Recognized Student Organizations).

In the Alumni Lounge, in Bartels Campus Center, tables were set up for each initiative, allowing guests to stop by and take part in a project that gave back to our local community.

Members from The Newman Club were putting together bags to be distributed to children in foster care in an effort to make them feel more comfortable. The group partnered with the Children’s Community Programs of Connecticut and its Emergency Placement Bag initiative.

This initiative "allowed us to support foster children during moments of sudden transition by providing not only essential items, but snacks and comfort, while giving a sense of dignity,” said Taylor Doyle-LeBouf ’27, president of The Newman Club. “Being part of a service activity, which was so hands-on, made the impact feel real, and it was meaningful to know we were helping children feel cared for during a time I can only image is difficult."

Other service initiatives included blanket making, hosted by Alpha Phi Omega; Hearts of Hope, by Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc.; and a food pantry collection and coat drive.

Then, over at Marvin K. Peterson Library, stories were being told by members from our very own Charger Community.

The idea behind the Living Library Project was to invite students and all members of the Charger Community to tell their story.

Twenty-five stories were on display for a week at Peterson Library, allowing guests to connect through personal narratives and creative expressions.