The University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during a panel discussion focused on keeping environmental justice at the forefront of sustainability work. “Paving the Way: Taking Bold Action Toward Environmental Justice,” was held on January 27, 2025, and spotlighted bold leaders who are transforming the fields of environmental justice, energy and sustainability. Panelists included Shalanda H. Baker, U-M's first vice provost for sustainability and climate action; Tony G. Reames, SEAS associate professor, who served as deputy director for energy justice and principal deputy director for the Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy; Carla Walker-Miller, CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Services, which focuses on equity and sustainable solutions; Jalonne White-Newsome, the first federal chief environmental officer at the White House Council on Environmental Quality; and Maddie Miller (moderator), SEAS PhD candidate and the founder and CEO of NexTiles, a Detroit-based textile recycling company that converts textile waste into building materials and other eco-friendly products.