Press Release – Advocate for Racial and Gender Equality to give Keynote Address at MLK Jr. Regional Celebration

The Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu, an Episcopal priest and advocate for racial and gender justice, will deliver the keynote address, “Our Shared Humanity: Creating Understanding Through the Principles of MLK,” at the 16th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Celebration. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, at 7 p.m. in SVSU’s Malcolm Field Theatre.

Tutu was born in apartheid South Africa and is the daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Her experiences in South Africa and with her father — who received the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize — have influenced her path as an advocate and priest.

Tutu has been heavily involved in public service in both Africa and the United States. She worked as an economist and development consultant in West Africa and served as program coordinator for programs on race and gender and gender-based violence in education at the African Gender Institute at the University of Cape Town. She has also taught at multiple American universities. She currently serves as a priest associate at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Atlanta.

Educated in Swaziland, the U.S. and England, Tutu began her public speaking as a college student at Berea College in Kentucky when she was invited to speak at churches, community groups and colleges about her experiences growing up in apartheid South Africa.

In addition to preaching and speaking, Tutu established Nozizwe Consulting whose mission is to bring together disparate groups to learn from and celebrate their differences and acknowledge their shared humanity.

In addition to the address by Tutu, the MLK Jr. Regional Celebration will include the presentation of the Martin Luther King Scholarship to high school seniors from the region. Officials will also announce the winners of the Drum Major Awards, recognizing members of the Great Lakes Bay Region who advance King’s vision through their community involvement.

Jeffery (Jeff) Dukes, recipient of the MLK Drum Major Award, was nominated by the Bay Area Community Foundation for his exceptional commitment to community service and his embodiment of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s values.

A resident of Linwood, Michigan, and a member of UA Local 85, Dukes has made a significant impact in the Great Lakes Bay Region through his volunteer work. From building ramps for those in need to mentoring students at the Saginaw Career Center Complex, Dukes has demonstrated a dedication to uplifting others.

His contributions also include volunteering with the United Way of Bay County and supporting the Foster Families Navigation Resource Center, among other initiatives. Reflecting on his dedication, Dukes shared, “It has always been one of my goals in life to give back to my community in any way that I can.”