Georgia Supreme Court Justice Verda M. Colvin spoke at an annual Martin Luther King Jr. observance program, hosted by Mercer’s TRIO programs on Jan. 14, 2026. From 6-8 p.m, students, faculty and Maconites filled Willet Science Center's auditorium to commemorate King.
To kick off the event, Kassia Bono ‘28, a peer mentor for TRIO, gave a welcome speech that was followed by Trinity Scales '27 performing a rendition of “Lift Every Voice And Sing.”
The song was written by James Johnson, who is known for his work as NAACP executive secretary while being a major figure during the Harlem Renaissance, and it became a mantra during the Civil Rights movement.
Colvin opened her speech with King’s mission of the “beloved community.” The term originated from American philosopher, Josiah Royce. This image of peace and harmony starts with “agape” love, Colvin said in her speech, and it was a core value for King.
“In 2026, we all have the ability and responsibility to create a beloved community. Individually, we can actively participate in love-centered action," Colvin said.
She urged students to build a beloved community by putting others before themselves, and by speaking up and taking action. The theme of selflessness resonated throughout Colvin's speech as she reinforced how she believes individual acts of love and advocacy can lead to the future King envisioned.
Referencing King's famous “Birth of a New Age” address, Colvin told the audience, “We may have come on different ships but we are in the same boat now.”
A handful of local politicians attended the event, including Macon-Bibb County Commissioner Stanley Stewart and Macon Water Authority member Elaine Lucas.
“One in three children in Georgia can not read proficiently,” Colvin said. “[There] is no reason why all of you all haven’t reached out to a school that’s underperforming in the Macon community and said, ‘I’m going to come in and volunteer.’”
After the speech, Colvin asked the audience if they knew which U.S. state was the first to approve Martin Luther King Jr. day as a holiday. The correct answer, Illinois, came as a surprise to some in the audience.
After the event, Isabelle Joseph, ‘29 said she hadn’t known any of that information.
“Why did it take [Illinois] so long to really recognize what [King] did?” Joseph asked. “Why did it take so long for the other states to follow along afterwards?”
TRIO mentees Jamiah Jasmin ‘30 and Dani Willingham ‘30 said they gained a new perspective of public service.
“It is not just volunteer hours on a card,” Willingham said. “It's important for people to thrive in their environment, however bad it is. People need to hear that from someone who has been in that environment and made a change.”
Precious Clark '26 is a Law & Public Policy major with a minor in Political Science. She works at the circulation desk in Tarver Library and Auxiliary Services. When she is not writing for The Mercer Cluster, she enjoys reading, drawing and listening to Tame Impala.
