Arissa Ford-Jones, a freshman studying music and business, performs “I’m Here” at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Observance at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. The performance by Ford-Jones, who has aspirations not only of becoming a professional singer but also a music producer, opened the event, which was held in-person at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event also included performances by the Sheldon’s All-Star Chorus under the direction of UMSL alumna Maria A. Ellis, a keynote speech from Black Voters Matter co-founder Cliff Albright and a recognition of this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship recipients.

This photograph was taken by UMSL photographer August Jennewein and is the latest to be featured in Eye on UMSL.