The Office of Diversity and Inclusion fosters and helps create a sustainable university-wide culture that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion and engagement as essential values aligned with the Felician Franciscan mission and heritage. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion supports the Felician Franciscan mission and heritage by delivering programs that promote and celebrate the oneness of humankind, by encouraging student organizations to form alliances with each other and by empowering students to become culturally responsive.
Our goals are to enhance student engagement, promote an appreciation of diversity, inclusion and respect for persons of all cultures, races, backgrounds, beliefs and experiences, prepare students who will advance as industry-ready members in a multicultural workforce that engage in service for the common good and prepare students for a career in an inclusive global economy.
Madonna University lives out its Catholic and Franciscan mission and values by creating and maintaining an environment where all persons are treated with understanding and respect. The University regards diversity and inclusion as guiding principles. Diversity calls upon individuals to know how to relate to qualities, conditions, and identities that are different from their own and from the groups to which they belong. Members of the University community are expected to respect others inclusive of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, socioeconomic status, age, physical abilities, cognitive abilities, family status, religious beliefs, political beliefs, and/or religious tradition.
The University community guarantees the freedom of individuals to explore their evolving self- identity in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment. The University ensures that all persons can participate in and have access to the everyday life of the institution. This deepens the understanding and appreciation of the individuality and circumstances of everyone. Inclusion is essential for the creation of a welcoming environment that promotes respect, hospitality, peace, and justice. At Madonna University, the commitment to diversity and inclusion emanates from the Franciscan values of respect for the dignity of each person, concern for the disadvantaged and oppressed, and reverence for life. In concert with Ex Corde Ecclesiae and Catholic Social Teaching, we maintain that all faiths and all people are welcome here.
The Livonia Human Relations Commission is sponsoring our MLK Essay Contest again this year!They have offered the following prompt for this year’s Essay Contest:
Advocacy is defined as any action that speaks in favor of, recommends, argues for a cause, supports or defends, or pleads on behalf of others.
Many minority group members in Livonia schools have experienced times when they felt silenced, isolated, or even excluded. These experiences may result from factors such as race, gender identity, age, language or cultural differences, disabilities, or other external barriers. Advocacy is a very powerful tool for giving a voice to the voiceless.
In an essay:
(1) Express a story of isolation, silence, or exclusion,
(2) of yourself or other(s), and
(3) how this situation was addressed or rectified.
(4) Tell how a brighter positive light (advocacy) shined on the situation and gave hope.
(5) Reflect on what you learned, and how advocacy played a role in addressing the situation.
Eligibility: The Essay Contest is open to all registered students Madonna University
Award: The winner will be announced during the week of the Martin Luther King Celebration
Selection Process: Members of the Livonia Human Relations Commission and the MU’s MLK Planning Committee will judge entries based upon originality, clarity, creativity and compliance with essay requirements below.
Essay Requirements: All essays must
Due Date: All essays must be submitted to mlk@madonna.edu by January 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Purpose: In partnership with Madonna University, the City of Livonia Human Relations Commission is implementing its annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Essay Contest. Our hope is that the essay will foster a deeper understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion
Prize: $500.00 Gift Card
We are looking for striking images that represent Madonna University's core values, such as our Catholic and Franciscan mission, our commitment to treating all people with dignity and respect, and embracing diversity and inclusion. All registered Madonna University students are eligible to enter. These original images should capture the spirit of Madonna University, the Civil Rights Movement and that honor this year's essay theme (see above).
Entries will be judged based upon originality, clarity, creativity, and compliance with photo requirements:
1. All photos must be original (photographs of photographs will not be considered)
2. Be high resolution (ideally no less than 300 dpi)
3. Have a size between 2550 px wide by 330 px tall (1300 dpi) and 1257 px wide by 1650 px tall (150 dpi)
4. Between 5 MB - 10 MB in size
5. JPEG file format
6. Include a 500-1,000 word caption on how your photo aligns with the theme of this year's essay.
All photos and captions should be submitted no later than January 21st at 11:59 pm to mlk@madonna.edu.
First prize ($350 gift card), second prize ($100 gift card), and third prize ($50 gift card) will be announced during the week of Martin Luther King Celebration.
Additional information will be made available shortly.
University Closed
1:00-3:00 PM - Franciscan Gathering Space
7:00 PM - Take Five
Additional information will be available soon
Candlelight Pilgrimage - 5:00 - 6:00 PM
Essay and Photo Contest award winners announced at 6:00 PM in the Franciscan Gathering Space
The Native American tribe that inhabited the general area which includes what is now known as Livonia, Michigan, before European settlers arrived, were the Potawatomi people. Historical records indicate that a Potawatomi village named "Pojomaka" was situated somewhere in the Livonia area, and Chief Tonquish, a prominent Potawatomi leader, is associated with this village.
A Land Acknowledgement or Land Recognition is a formal statement, often given orally at the beginning of organized events, celebrations, or activities. It recognizes, respects, and affirms that there is an irreducible and ongoing relationship between Indigenous people and the Land. Land Acknowledgements are especially important in contemporary nation-states, like the US and Canada, in which the political structures are based on settler-colonialism and the expropriation of Lands from Indigenous peoples. Land Acknowledgements serve to illuminate ongoing Indigenous presence, as well as recognize and counter settler-colonial legacies of violence and Land expropriation.
This statement can be used as is, or if you can find ways to connect it to your specific field of study, you may do so. This statement can be present in your syllabus and read before presentations or events.
