Opportunity Lives Here
The Center for Community and Connection is A 360° student support hub funded by Michigan’s King-Chávez-Parks (KCP) Select Student Services (4S) grant. The center supports initiatives that strengthen retention, graduation and career success readiness outcomes for students who are from academically underprepared or economically underresourced backgrounds.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service | January, 19, 2026
Each year, communities across the country honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through acts of service that reflect his lifelong commitment to justice, compassion, and collective responsibility. Dr. King believed that building a more equitable and connected society begins with everyday people choosing to care for one another. His words, “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve” , continue to guide national service efforts today.
This year’s theme embraces the power of service to move us forward. Every small action matters: tying a blanket for someone in need, writing a heartfelt letter, packing food for families, or offering a moment of kindness. These simple acts create ripples of support that grow into meaningful change.
Together, we can bring hope, comfort, and relief to our neighbors during the long U.P. winter. By giving our time and energy, we honor Dr. King’s vision of a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, and we remind ourselves that service is one of the strongest ways we can build a more just future.
Events are being supported by Michigan's King-Chavez-Parks grant
Our Core Values Include:
The core values of Michigan's King-Chávez-Parks (KCP) Select Student Support Services (4S) programs are centered on access, opportunity, inclusion, and academic persistence to increase graduation rates for academically or economically disadvantaged students. The program is built around providing specific support services rather than a defined set of "four values" (the "4S" stands for Select Student Support Services).
The general principles and objectives that guide the KCP 4S program include:
- Increasing Graduation Rates: The primary goal is to improve persistence and success for targeted students, ensuring measurable long-term improvement in graduation rates.
- Retention: Develop effective, coordinated, lasting retention strategies and programming.
- Career Success Readiness:
- Access and Inclusion: The program aims to ensure that every student has an opportunity to achieve life success, regardless of their ethnicity, social, or economic status.
- Providing Targeted Support: This includes a "strengths-based approach" to offer services such as academic tutoring, coaching, mentoring, and basic needs support.
- Fostering a Sense of Belonging: Working to increase 4S students' sense of belonging through various initiatives and cultural events.
- Promoting Systemic Change: The initiative also aims to act as a catalyst for broader institutional changes to permanently ensure the improvement of graduation rates for targeted students.
- Empowerment: The program seeks to empower students to make good choices, prioritize goals, and take responsibility for their path to success.
Michigan's King-Chávez-Parks (KCP) Select Student Support Services (4S) mission is rooted in the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., César Chávez, and Rosa Parks, aiming to break down barriers to higher education and promote career success for all Michigan citizens.
Our Services are Open to All:
The Center for Community and Connection (CCC) provides a welcoming and inclusive gathering space intentionally designed to support marginalized students while remaining open to the entire NMU community. CCC is staffed by full-time employees to assist students in navigating institutional systems, along with student staff who specialize in peer support, community-building, and creating meaningful connections.
As a reliable and safe hub on campus, the center helps individuals connect with both university and community resources, ensuring they receive the support they need. It also serves as a comfortable place to gather with peers, build relationships, and strengthen a sense of belonging. Throughout the year, the center hosts workshops, lectures, events, and programs focused on opportunity, empowerment, people, and community, creating meaningful experiences that enrich the student journey.
Students can enjoy:
Free coffee, tea, and hot chocolate
Snacks
Access to a free resource library that offers tools for learning, personal growth, and empowerment
Free printing services
Upcoming Events
Northern Michigan University’s Center for Community and Connection hosts inclusive, cultural, educational, and social events that create a sense of belonging and meaningful engagement on campus. Programs include workshops, community gatherings, and cultural celebrations. These events create opportunities for students and community members to learn, connect, and build community.
Check out The Hub for information on our upcoming events!
Anishinaabe Ancestral Homelands Statement
ᑮᐧᐁᑎᓄᒃ ᒥᒋᑲᓐ ᑭᓄᒫᑫ'ᑲᒥᑯᒃ ᑮᐧᐁᑎᓄᒃ ᒥᒋᑲᓐ ᑭᓄᒫᑫ'ᑲᒥᑯᒃ ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯ ᐧᓯ ᔥᑯᑌ ᐊᑭᒃ᙮ ᑭᒋᓇᒣᐱᓂ ᓰᐱᒃ ᐁᔑᓂᑲᑌᒃ ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᒧᐧᐃᓂᒃ Marquette᙮
Giiwedinong Michigan Kinomaage'gamigong ayaa gete-anishinaabewaking Anishinaabe Swi Shkode Aking Gichi-namebini Ziibing ezhinikaadeg Anishinaabemowining Marquette.
Northern Michigan University is located on the ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabe Three Fires Confederacy. Gichi-namebini Ziibing is the traditional name of Marquette. Translation and permission to use it courtesy of the Center for Native American Studies at NMU.