FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Pikes Peak State College Hosts Panel Discussion with MLK Jr.’s Nephew on Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy 

Colorado Springs, CO – January 15, 2025 – Pikes Peak State College (PPSC), in collaboration with the Pikes Peak Diversity Council and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Preservation Society, is proud to host a special panel discussion, Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence365, on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, from 4:00-5:30 pm. The event will take place at the Centennial Theater (5675 S Academy Blvd.). We welcome the public to attend and invite the media to cover this panel.  

This panel will feature Isaac Newton Farris Jr., nephew of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., alongside college students from the Black Student Union (BSU) at PPSC. We are excited to have Rachel Stoval of KKTV to moderate. The panel will explore nonviolence as a framework for addressing the critical issues of freedom, justice, and democracy. The discussion will aim to honor Dr. King’s enduring legacy while empowering attendees to engage in service, advocacy, and action throughout the year.  

“This event is an opportunity to strengthen our community by reflecting on Rev. Dr. King’s principles of nonviolence, equality, and inclusion,” said Dr. Enrique Romo, Vice President of Student Experience and Equity at PPSC. “We hope to inspire attendees to recommit themselves to these values and work toward a more just and inclusive society.” 

This event is part of a local series that coincides with the federally designated holiday honoring Dr. King, a time to reflect on his lifelong dedication to justice and peace. A youth panel discussion is being help at Colorado Springs School (21 Broadmoor Ave.) on Monday, January 20 from 4:00-5:30 pm, followed by a community panel discussion at on Wednesday, January 22 from 3:00-5:30 pm at UCCS in the Roaring Fork Hall within Kettle Creek Event Venue (4785 Stanton Rd.). This year’s theme, Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence365, underscores the importance of collaboration, respect, and resilience in addressing contemporary challenges. 

"Isaac Newton Farris Jr.'s visit to Pikes Peak State is a valuable opportunity for our students to learn from Dr. Martin Luther King's nephew on the importance of social action. This panel discussion will promote diversity, equitable change, and nonviolent activism in a challenging political landscape. We hope this event will encourage our student body to take a stand for community justice, inclusion and advocacy for underserved populations right here in Colorado Springs,” says Ty'Anna Jones Boyd, who is the current president of the Black Student Union at PPSC. 

For more information about the panel discussion, please contact Dr. Enrique Romo at enrique.romo@pikespeak.edu. To learn more about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Preservation Society, visit mlklegacy.org.