The Akron Urban League is pleased to present its annual celebration of the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This breakfast is an opportunity for all residents of Summit County to come together and help us share Dr. King’s vision of a more perfect union.

Building on the excitement from last year’s event, this year we are proud to have Dr. Maurice Stinnett as our keynote speaker.

About Maurice:

Dr. Maurice A. Stinnett is an experienced leader and expert in the areas of diversity, inclusion, and equity across nonprofit, education, and corporate sectors. He serves as the inaugural Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for BSE Global, which owns and operates state-of-the-art venues such as the Barclays Center, and premier sports franchises including the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets. In his role at BSE Global, he creates innovative programming tailored for inclusion and cultural competence and provides leadership and support across BSE’s brands. Dr. Stinnett was the first Black man to be appointed Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for an NBA team.

Dr. Stinnett’s prior experience includes roles in higher education and nonprofit leadership. He most recently served as Vice President of Engagement and Chief Diversity Officer at Cleveland State University, where he successfully led the institution’s response to a university crisis that received national attention and ignited debates regarding the distinction between free speech and hate speech. Prior to joining CSU, his experience included serving as Dean of Students at Central State University, as the Sr. Director of Community Engagement and Education at CentroNia, a multicultural, bilingual education nonprofit located in Washington, DC; and as Chairman for the World Leadership Program, a White House initiative under the Obama administration that sought to spark learning and dialogue between graduate students and universities in the Middle East and the United States.

Dr. Stinnett is an energetic presenter who is a fierce advocate for equity and inclusion. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business from Central State University, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Master of Education and Doctor of Education and Organizational Leadership from Columbia University.

As always, we expect a large crowd, so reserve your seats early!

This year's Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event is sponsored by Key Bank.