Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Infinite Hope presented by Ernest Owens

Wilson College will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a special program titled “Infinite Hope” on Monday, January 19, 2026, from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Alumnae Chapel, Thomson Hall. The event is free and open to the public, with a livestream option available for remote attendees.

The keynote speaker will be Ernest Owens, an award-winning journalist and CEO of Ernest Media Empire LLC. Owens serves as editor of Eater Philly, political writer at large for Philadelphia Magazine, and hosts the podcast Ernestly Speaking! as well as Philadelphia City Council Live on WURD Radio. He is also the author of The Case for Cancel Culture, and his work has appeared in major outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone.

This annual celebration invites the community to reflect on Dr. King’s enduring message of hope and justice.

Ernest Owens is an award-winning journalist and CEO of Ernest Media Empire, LLC. He
is the the Editor of Eater Philly, Political Writer at Large for Philadelphia Magazine,
President of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, and Regional Vice
President of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (Mid-Atlantic Chapter).
He is a proud life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is the executive
producer and host of the hit podcast “Ernestly Speaking!” and host of Philadelphia City
Council Live on WURD Radio. He’s the author of the book “The Case for Cancel
Culture” that’s published by St. Martin’s Press, an imprint of Macmillan Publishers. As an
openly Black gay journalist, he has made headlines for speaking frankly about
intersectional issues in society regarding race, LGBTQIA, and pop culture. In 2018, he
launched his growing media company that specializes in multimedia production,
consulting, and communications.

An innovative millennial, Ernest has already become an emerging media mogul in his
own right. He received his B.A. 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’s an adjunct professor at Community College of
Philadelphia. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post,
Rolling Stone, CNN, NBC, Dr. Phil Primetime, and other prominent media outlets. He’s
also a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, the Association of LGBTQ+
Journalists, and the Online News Association.
He has earned countless honors, which includes landing on the 2024 Most Influential
African Americans list by The Philadelphia Tribune, the 2023 City & State PA Pride
Power 100 list, winning the 2020 Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of
Professional Journalists, and other honors from Forbes, American Society of Magazine
Editors, National Association of Black Journalists, National Association of LGBTQ+
Journalists, Pen & Pencil Club, and City & Regional Magazine Association. In 2022, he
was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for his writing at Rolling Stone magazine.

He can be found on Twitter and other social media platforms at @MrErnestOwens &
ernestowens.com.