College of Law Partners with MLK Jr's Family to Launch 'Realize the Dream' Volunteerism Project
January 19, 2025
Service is a cornerstone of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy. 57 years after his death, Dr. King has inspired a new service-oriented movement, Realize the Dream, led by his son, Martin Luther King III, his wife Arndrea Waters King and their daughter Yolanda Renee King.
The goal of Realize the Dream is to encourage public (and private) service and generate 100 million volunteer hours by MLK’s 100th birthday in 2029.
The UNT Dallas College of Law is the first college or university in North Texas and the only law school in the nation to join the King family in its global campaign to use volunteer and civic engagement to bridge divides and strengthen communities.
“We are planting the seed to bring people together,” said Cheryl Wattley, UNT Dallas College of Law professor, at a kickoff event with King III at the law school in downtown Dallas on Friday, Jan. 17. Wattley established the relationship with the King family and Realize the Dream, making this partnership possible.
College of Law dean Felicia Epps agreed. “We are building on ten years of service,” Epps said. “Service is part of the DNA of this law school.”
The gathering brought together undergraduate students and law students from UNT Dallas, along with faculty and staff from the College of Law and main campus, to meet King III and hear about plans for Realize the Dream. Honored guests included UNT Dallas College of Law alumni and members of the local judiciary.
Students and employees from Paul Quinn College also attended. As the only HBCU in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, it will boost Realize a Dream within the HBCU world and has already agreed to collaborate with UNT Dallas College of Law on the launch of the campaign here in North Texas.
“This is about turning to each other, not on each other, said King III,” referring to the ambitious multi-national effort. King III was blunt in his assessment of the U.S. at this point in history. He specifically noted that MLK Day, Jan. 20, 2025, is also Inauguration Day. “The vitriol in our political discourse today will not survive,” King predicted.
The Realize the Dream project will target college students and other younger Americans, encouraging them to volunteer for organizations and causes that resonate with them. “Young people listen to young people – and they set the example,” King III said. “Young people aren’t just following, they are leading.”
Realize the Dream is off to a strong start. It already has the support of the NBA, NFL, MLB, Scholastic, the College Board, iHeart Radio, Allstate, Door Dash and many more.
WATCH: The Realize the Dream Launch Video
In his conversation with students and others, King III noted that 2025 is off to a difficult and tragic start, and talked about the incidents in New Orleans, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, which killed dozens of people. But, he said, all the negative has inspired some positive. “The best of America. People are giving clothes, food, money. And themselves. They are driving to California to help,” King said, using the moment to reinforce the importance of volunteerism and helping those in distress.
“My father would always try to extract the good from people,” King remembered. “If someone was 90% bad and 10% good, he would focus on the 10%.”
King’s advice for students: Set your own goals; prepare yourself to be the best (education); create the environment for success. “Help us solve complex and complicated issues,” he said in response from a question from UNT Dallas senior Aakira Blackmon.
For many, MLK Day, the third Monday in January designated as a federal holiday, is “not a day off, it is a day on”, King III said, meaning it is often filled with community service, celebration and remembrance – the same actions Realize the Dream hopes to inspire in seven million young people around the world.
By motivating others to join them in volunteering and service to others, the King family aims to build bridges and foster understanding between people everywhere, carrying on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.