CSU Replaces MLK March With Indoor Programs, Virtual Walk
Colorado State University and Fort Collins partners held an expanded indoor celebration Jan. 19, replacing the traditional one-mile community march that has been halted for three consecutive years due to winter weather. The shift marks a significant pivot for an event that has drawn more than 1,500 participants in recent years and historically linked Old Town Square to the CSU campus.
After three straight years of extreme cold cancellations, organizers scrapped the outdoor march. A virtual one-mile walk let participants complete the route independently by Jan. 19, with CSU Athletics hosting a prize raffle. Event organizers will evaluate community feedback on this year's format, according to CSU officials.
New hands-on activities included group music lessons with drums and singing, a literacy room hosted by Poudre Libraries focused on civil rights education, and a writing workshop titled "The Power of Storytelling" that honored Dr. King as a writer—all under the theme "Mission Possible II: Building Community, Uniting Fort Collins."
Rickey Frierson, CSU assistant vice president for strategic student success, tied the shift to Dr. King's teachings about interconnection. "Our theme this year invites us to reflect on what it truly means to come together," Frierson said. "Dr. King reminded us that our lives are deeply interconnected. What affects one of us affects all of us. In Fort Collins, on this campus and through our city, we see that truth every day."
Returning activities included a capoeira martial arts demonstration, a letter-writing space for local representatives, and a collaborative art mural featuring the motto "We Still Dream." Participants also sorted clothing donations for The Homeward Alliance, continuing a partnership from prior years.
CSU has hosted the celebration for 44 years, with the march traditionally connecting Old Town Square to the Lory Student Center.
The collaborative mural "We Still Dream" will remain on display on campus in the coming weeks.