The publicity coordinator serves as the marketing guru for the event. He/she is responsible for designing & distributing posters on campus, sending out promotional emails, working with the local radio stations & newspapers to get media coverage, Facebook invitations, and signage at the actual event (thank yous to businesses, MLK quotes, images, etc).

In general, plastering posters & ads in the school newspaper are pretty effective ways of letting people know about the event. "Contact tables" in student unions can also be effective, particularly if the students staffing the table are informative and engaging when speaking about the MLK Challenge. Facebook can be a great tool as well for spreading the word. The first few years may be difficult to explain to students what the day is, especially if they're used to considering it a "day off" from school. Be proactive....ask if you can do a presentation at club meetings, utilize empty advertising space on your campus, send out a club mailing (see attached mailing for an example) or email. If people leave your event tired and happy, with the knowledge that they completed meaningful work, then simple word of mouth will be your best advertising/publicity for the next year.

Tips for poster designing:

• be sure to include all relevant information (free food!! (if applicable), deadlines to register, locations, etc)
  
• agenda-at-a-glance -- lets people know that they're expected to stay all day
• bold & colorful design (to get ideas flowing, try brainstorming with your planning committee about ideas, colors, & images for poster)
• hint of mystery -- pump up the idea of completing a challenge; ASU uses the tag line, "MLK Challenge...are you up for it?"
  

Try plugging in with your local town media outlets as well. Especially because this event is so community-focused (not only will students be completing projects in the community, but also likely soliciting donations from local businesses), working with your local radio stations and newspapers is a great way to advertise the event. Communities like hearing about good things that college students are doing...so start spreading the news about your campus' MLK Challenge!

Not sure where to start with designing your poster? Here are a few websites that offer graphic design tips:
Ideabook
Flyer Boy