Pictured: Laila performed as a soloist at Seattle University on January 22, 2026
Last week, our talented violin student, Laila West, achieved another significant milestone by performing as a soloist at Seattle University’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration, hosted by the Office of Diversity & Inclusion on January 22, 2026. Laila performed the first movement of Vivaldi’s Concerto in G major with exceptional composure. She performed entirely from memory, delivering a confident and expressive performance to a packed audience of campus staff, students, and community members in honor of Dr. King’s legacy and wisdom.
This year’s event featured Harvard University’s Professor Randall L. Kennedy as the keynote speaker. Professor Kennedy is the Michael R. Klein Professor of Law and the author of seven books, the most recent of which is Say It Loud! On Race, Law, History, and Culture. Dr. Quinton Morris, Executive Director & Founder of Key to Change, then took the stage for the first time at Seattle University since launching his Red Talk lecture last October. He shared how our nonprofit’s mission to empower underserved youth and support their development as self-aware leaders echoes Dr. King’s teachings.
Dr. Morris introduced Laila and spoke about her journey with Key to Change, highlighting her remarkable growth as a musician, student, and young leader. In less than three years as our student, Laila’s has debuted as a soloist with the University of Washington Philharmonia Campus Orchestra, Tacoma Community College Orchestra, and has performed for former Vice President Kamala Harris. Laila is a senior at Franklin High School and hopes to enroll at Seattle University next fall.
Brava, Laila for this outstanding accomplishment!
Top Left: Dr. Morris and Laila; Bottom Left: Dr. Morris speaking at the event; Top Right: Laila’s Mother, Patra, with her daughter’s poster; Bottom Right: Professor Kennedy on stage
