HAMMOND and WESTVILLE, Ind. — Purdue University Northwest (PNW) invites the public to join its annual celebration of the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. through free programming on Jan. 16 and Jan. 20, 2025.

PNW will offer two opportunities for community members to join its MLK Day celebrations. Both of these community events will feature engaging keynote addresses from local civic leaders, as well as breakout community conversations focusing on issues of systemic racism and social justice. All event information can be found at pnw.edu/mlk-celebration.

Jan. 16 MLK Day Community Event Information
PNW’s Jan. 16 MLK Day celebration will be hosted from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall on the Hammond campus, 2200 169th Street, Hammond, Ind.

Barry Tyler Jr., Councilman for the City of Hammond’s 3rd District, will deliver the keynote address. Tyler Jr. is currently serving in his second term with the City of Hammond’s Common Council. His top priorities include economic development, youth services, and public health and safety. He also volunteers for several nonprofit organizations and is an active member of the Gary Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Tyler Jr. has been recognized for his efforts towards improving the quality of life for residents, including being named as a Times ‘20 Under 40’ professional in 2014 and receiving the Community Center Development Corporation Clarence Collins “Keeper of the Dream Award” in 2023.

Jan. 20 MLK Day Community Event Information
PNW’s Jan. 20 MLK Day celebration, which takes place on the federal holiday, begins at 7:45 a.m. and goes through 11 a.m. on the Westville branch campus, 1401 S. U.S. 421, Westville, Ind. The event will take place in the Great Hall Events and Conference Center inside the James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex.

Marty Corley, Chief of Police for the Michigan City Police Department (MCPD), will serve as keynote speaker for PNW’s Jan. 20 event. Corley was appointed Chief of Police in January 2024 and has served with the department since October 2000. While at MCPD, Corley has worked in various capacities with two and a half years as Chief of Operations, 12 years in the investigative division, 17 years on the MCPD Special Weapons and Tactics Team (S.W.A.T.), over 10 years as a Drug Recognition Expert and Indiana Law Enforcement Certified Instructor, director of the MCPD Youth Leadership Academy, and Lead Instructor for the MCPD Police Explorers Post #75. Corley’s passion is to serve the community, and he is actively involved with several commissions and boards that include Michigan City Human Rights Commission; Salvation Army of Michigan City; Boys and Girls Club of Michigan City; PACT, Inc.; Habitat for Humanity of La Porte County; and elected official to the Michigan City Area Schools Board of Trustees, since 2013.

The Jan. 20 MLK Day celebration at PNW will also include a buffet breakfast.

Since 1992, PNW has partnered with the Northwest Indiana community to reflect on the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream and legacy of inclusion and justice.

For more information on PNW’s MLK Day celebrations, including sponsorship opportunities, visit pnw.edu/mlk-celebration.

About Purdue University Northwest
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a student-centered university that transforms lives through innovative education, impactful research and community engagement. Located in Northwest Indiana, near Chicago, PNW is recognized as the largest Hispanic-Serving Institution in Indiana, a First Scholars institution and an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University. PNW advances the socioeconomic mobility of its students and positively impacts regional development. For more information, visit pnw.edu.