Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance at Smith Chapel

Ako Abdul-Samad, a member of the Iowa State House, delivered the address during Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Observance in Smith Chapel. Abdul-Samad, a former member of the Des Moines School Board and founder and CEO of Creative Visions Human Development Institute, a non-profit organization in Des Moines, spoke about differences in perceptions and the importance of forgiveness. Abdul-Samad also spoke about ways to understand similarities in order to accept differences.

Faculty and students spoke about service and awareness opportunities on campus, including the upcoming “End the Isms” March and The Wesley Service scholar program.The ceremony included a Service Hour Pledge, where students were asked to donate time during the rest of the semester in a variety of areas throughout the community.

Alex McManis/Staff Photographer