ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS (January 13, 2026) — Augustana College invites the public to attend an MLK Day keynote panel discussion, “Acts of Compassion: Turning Care into Change.” The panel discussion will be Monday, January 19, 12-1:30PM, at Centennial Hall, located at 3703 7th Ave, Rock Island. The event is free.
Community members who cannot attend the discussion can view a livestream of the event at https://augustana.edu/mlk2026.
The MLK Day keynote panel, “Acts of Compassion: Turning Care into Change,” is a part of Augustana's annual celebration of Dr Martin Luther King Jr's life and legacy, which will take place January 19-23. The theme of the event is "The Fierce Urgency of Now: Compassion in Action."
The “Acts of Compassion: Turning Care into Change” panel discussion will include four leaders whose work reflects Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s call to respond to the fierce urgency of now with empathy, courage and meaningful action.
- Christie Adamson, co-founder and director, The Third Place QC
- Bonnie Ballard, president, Rock Island County NAACP Branch #3268
- Alejandra Camacho ‘19, director of empowerment programs, World Relief Quad Cities
- Edwin Salazar, director, ThePlace2B
The moderator for the panel discussion will be Augustana Assistant Professor of Art Larissa Frimprong.
The panelists will address some of the most pressing challenges facing communities, including food insecurity to a growing social division, through service, advocacy, and collaborative partnerships. They will reflect on how compassion becomes a catalyst for justice, what it means to move from awareness to sustainable action, and how each of us can help build a more caring and equitable community.
Dr Gauri Pitale, Augustana’s vice president for culture and connection, said she believes Dr Martin Luther King Jr taught society that change can lead to great impact.
“Dr Martin Luther King Jr consistently reminded us that meaningful social change begins with holding a mirror to ourselves,” said Dr Pitale. ”As we find ourselves at a pivotal moment in our nation’s history, his legacy calls us to reflect on how our actions, choices and values shape the world around us.
“Dr King showed us that compassion is not passive, but active, and that kindness, dignity, and care for one another are essential to building a just and productive society.”
