Playbill has partnered with Inspired to create and amplify stories of inspiration that advocate for young people across the country to have access to arts and cultural experiences. The following article is written by the team at Situation Project and adapted from their online publication Inspired. Click here to learn more.
At NYU, the MLK Scholars Program is more than just a scholarship—it’s a powerful platform for students to connect their academic interests to meaningful social change, guided by the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Through seminars, travel experiences, and community dialogue, scholars gain both the historical context and the real-world tools to become the kind of leaders who serve, uplift, and build bridges across differences.
“We embed Dr. King’s philosophy of a ‘love-centered way of thinking, speaking, acting, and engaging’ into every aspect of the program,” explains Harmony D. Osei, Director of the MLK Scholars Program. “Our goal is to help students see that leadership isn’t about personal recognition—it’s about being a thoughtful, compassionate force for collective transformation.”
A Program Shaped by Student Voices
This holistic approach to leadership development has evolved over time, shaped directly by students’ voices. Scholars play an active role in designing programming that reflects the social issues that matter most to them—whether that’s criminal justice reform, environmental sustainability, or workplace inequities. This year, the program also sponsored a special event on Indigenous and diasporic food-ways for NYU’s 20th Annual MLK Week, showing how culture, community, and justice are deeply intertwined.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
The program’s emphasis on experiential learning is one of its greatest strengths. Scholars don’t just read about social movements—they visit the places where history happened and meet the people continuing that work today. Domestic and international travel colloquia have taken students from civil rights landmarks in Alabama to community organizations in Accra, expanding their understanding of activism across borders.
“We want students to understand that knowledge isn’t only found in books or classrooms,” Osei says. “There’s immense wisdom held within local communities, and it’s just as valuable as traditional scholarship. That’s a critical part of cultural humility—learning how to truly listen.”
From Inspiration to Action
What happens after students return from these experiences is equally powerful. Many scholars channel what they’ve learned into action—creating research projects, launching campus organizations, or producing creative work that reflects their commitment to justice. Others take their passion into the world after graduation, starting nonprofits, raising funds for medical research, or working in global disaster relief.
The program also offers practical support to help students merge their academic and career goals with their commitment to service. Through partnerships with offices like NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development, scholars learn how to talk about their research, volunteer work, and activism in ways that resonate with employers and graduate schools.
A Legacy That Lives On In The Arts and Beyond
The MLK Scholars Program’s impact doesn’t stop at NYU’s gates. Alumni like Brittney Johnson (Tisch ‘12), the first Black actress to play Glinda in Wicked, use their platforms to advocate for greater equity and representation in the arts. Others, like Travis Montez Johnson (CAS ‘00), weave together careers in law, poetry, and education—demonstrating that social change work can flourish at the intersection of creativity, advocacy, and public service.
“Dr. King once said the goal of true education is ‘intelligence plus character,’ and that’s the foundation of everything we do,” Osei reflects. “Our hope is that when scholars leave this program, they are not only informed citizens, but also courageous leaders who inspire others to step up and join the conversation.”
Inspired was created by Situation Project 501(c)3.
