Waverly College will host several events honoring civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. during MLK Week, Jan. 15-19.

As part of its MLK Week tradition, the college shortens its class schedule Monday to accommodate a 1:35 p.m. Day of Service Kickoff event. The student-run Volunteer Action Center has organized multiple service projects in the Cedar Valley.

At 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15, “Freedom Writers,” a 2007 film based on the real-life experiences of teacher Erin Gruwell and at-risk students at Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach, Calif., will be shown in McCaskey Lyceum.

On Wednesday, Jan. 17, at 10:15 a.m., the Weekday Chapel service will feature student leaders presenting “Stay Woke.” Later that night at Sanctuary, poet Cherie Kabba will be the featured speaker.

Beverly Smith, associate superintendent for human resources and equity in the Waterloo Community Schools, and Felicia Smith-Nalls, a Wartburg College graduate and community leader, will talk about “Implicit Bias and Education,” on Thursday, Jan. 18, at 11:30 a.m., in McCaskey Lyceum.

“We would really like to see the community engaged in this year’s MLK Week,” said Breyanna Primous, a student-leader on the MLK Week planning committee. “We believe that we have incorporated a variety of events to keep Wartburg students, faculty, staff and the community learning throughout the week.”

Other events include:

• A poverty simulation, Monday, Jan. 15, 2-5 p.m., in Knights Ballroom of Saemann Student Center.
• A Peace Dialogue, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., in Knights Ballroom.
• Sip & Paint, Tuesday, Jan 16, 7 p.m., in The W classrooms.
• The Outlet, featuring performances by a diverse group of students expressing social justice through dance, poetry, song and various performances, Thursday, Jan. 18, 8 p.m., in McCaskey Lyceum.