EUREKA — Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton will be the keynote speaker at Eureka College’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. program on Thursday.

The event will be at the Becker Auditorium of the Donald B. Cerf Center at 6 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

In her role as lieutenant governor, Stratton also serves on the Illinois Council on Women and Girls, the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council, the Military Economic Development Committee and the Rivers of Illinois Coordinating Council.

“As the first Black woman Lieutenant Governor in the state of Illinois, I am committed to furthering progress and delivering opportunities to all communities, especially those who have been historically disinvested or ignored,” Stratton said in a news release. “There is more work ahead to ensure that all of our communities are afforded the equity and justice they deserve."

During her speech, Stratton will discuss the leadership legacy of Dr. King and the work her Justice, Equity and Opportunity Initiative has done to ensure stronger communities.