Wilson College to Honor Martin Luther King Jr. at Infinite Hope Event

Wilson College will honor the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with a special evening program titled “Infinite Hope” on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Alumnae Chapel of Thomson Hall. This annual event invites the community to reflect on King’s enduring message of hope and justice. The program will feature a keynote address by Ernest Owens, an award-winning journalist and media executive; a performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing;” and remarks by Wilson College President Wesley R. Fugate, Ph.D.   

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Owens is CEO of Ernest Media Empire LLC and serves as editor of Eater Philly, political writer-at-large for Philadelphia Magazine, and host of the podcasts Ernestly Speaking! and Philadelphia City Council Live on WURD Radio. He is the author of The Case for Cancel Culture, published by St. Martin’s Press. His work has appeared in national outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone. His journalism frequently addresses issues at the intersection of race, LGBTQIA+ identity, politics, and popular culture. 

He launched Ernest Media Empire in 2018 as a multimedia production, consulting, and communications firm. Owens holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in communication management from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the Community College of Philadelphia.  

Owens’ work has earned numerous honors, including recognition on The Philadelphia Tribune’s 2024 Most Influential African Americans list and the 2023 City & State Pennsylvania Pride Power 100. He received the 2020 Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists and has been recognized by Forbes, the American Society of Magazine Editors, the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, the Pen & Pencil Club, and the City & Regional Magazine Association. In 2022, he was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for his writing at Rolling Stone. 

The event is free and open to the public. A livestream option will be available for those unable to attend in person. For more information visit: https://www.wilson.edu/mlk-day-2026