The clap echoed through the gym. Then another. And another. By the time senior Sam Curvy finished, the entire Jesuit community was locked in, ready to reflect, listen, and act. The MLK assembly on January 13 wasn’t just a commemoration, it was a call to action.
Curvy introduced Mr. Maxie, who set the tone for the assembly and introduced senior Kiana Johnson to start the program the way we do at Jesuit event, with a prayer.
Junior Penny Harrison then introduced the Brown Sisters, who are no strangers to the Portland community. They began singing together at Bethesda Christian Church and have been sharing gospel and inspirational music for over 30 years, performing across the globe. Their journey includes singing for the Portland Trail Blazers and even opening for the late Dr. Maya Angelou. This gospel group uses their voices to service churches, charities, and nonprofits, spreading joy and positive change.
We then heard a recap of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s life and accomplishments from Omri Brown, followed by senior Iman Foster who set the context for Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
The student body then watched a video featuring alumni Sophia Bell ‘23, Asaph Tekeste ‘24, Marcus Johnson ‘22, Jada Williams ‘25, and Makende Stewart ‘23. In the video, alumni reflected on what it means to keep Dr. King’s dream alive, sharing how they carry his vision into their everyday lives and live out its values beyond Jesuit.
On the other side of the Knight Gym, opposite the podium, senior BSU leaders Maraki Melles and Jada Johnson, along with junior Major Williams, participated in a student panel. They shared their experiences as students of color at Jesuit, speaking honestly about navigating identity, finding community, and staying true to themselves in a society that often pressures conformity. Their conversation highlighted the challenges of persevering through injustice while still holding onto hope, growth, and the responsibility to move Dr. King’s dream forward.
“The new layout of the assembly I think kept people more engaged and the Brown Sisters kept the lively energy in the gym going,” junior Joselynn Pham said.
Sophomore Lincoln Brown closed off the assembly by asking for a moment of silence and leaving the student body with a final question: How can you keep the dream alive?…What is your responsibility? He then reintroduced the Brown Sisters to close off the assembly with a “Lean on Me” medley. The gym quickly filled with energy as students clapped along, stood to their feet, and joined in, transforming the space into a moment of unity, joy, and shared purpose that captured the spirit of the assembly.
“A lot of my classmates told me this was one of the best MLK assemblies we’ve had,” BSU leader Maraki Melles said. “Knowing that, especially in my last year, makes all the work worth it.”
