JANUARY 2020: MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY

Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day by participating in any of these or many other inspiring events around the state. For a complete list of statewide events check out the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. State Celebration Commission of Missouri's 2020 Calendar of Events. 

Western Missouri

• The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) of Greater Kansas City, in partnership with the Black Archives of Mid-America, presents the 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Kickoff. This event, taking place on January 11 beginning at 3 p.m. at 1722 East 17th Terrace, features a reception, including remarks from U.S. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II, as well as an introduction of The Dream Continues exhibit, which celebrates the late Reverend Dr. Nelson “Fuzzy” Thompson, former SCLC President and civil rights stalwart. For more information or for a schedule of additional events, please visit online.

• On Monday, January 20, volunteers will join City Year's 3,000+ AmeriCorps members at locations across the United States to participate in a day of service. City Year commemorates the Civil Rights Movement and honors the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by celebrating Dr. King's birthday as a "day on, not a day off."  In partnership with Kansas City Public Schools, City Year Kansas City has created transformational service projects, such as painting murals and service projects just for children. Nearly 300 volunteers from across Kansas City will come together on this day to brighten and beautify the halls of Faxon Elementary School in an effort to reconnect, uplift, and inspire the students, staff, and community. Please visit online to learn more or to register for this special event.

• The Golden Royalties Chapter of the American Business Women Association hosts an annual educational and scholarship event honoring the life and legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., while collecting monies to help deserving women go to college. At this event on January 18 beginning at 6 p.m. at Friendship Baptist Church, the Keeping the Dream Alive Awards Ceremony is conducted to honor and recognize the 2020 MLK Honorees, who were nominated and selected for their outstanding achievements and service to our community in categories such as: community service, humanitarian, education, medicine/health care, religion, music, entrepreneurship, and sports. For more information or to RSVP, please visit online or contact 2020 MLK Event Coordinator, Carolyn Dillon, at carolyn.simpkins41@gmail.com.

• Metropolitan Community College, in partnership with Community America Credit Union, presents the 2020 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Luncheon. This special event takes place on January 17 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown and features speaker Ed Gordon, a veteran radio and television personality known for his stellar interaction with newsmakers in the worlds of politics, entertainment, and sports. For more information, to purchase tickets, or become a sponsor, please visit online. For additional inquiries, contact Jessica Ramirez by email at Jessica.ramirez@mcckc.edu or by phone at 816-604-1411.

Central Missouri

• Dr. Gwendolyn Elizabeth Boyd is the University of Missouri’s 2020 featured speaker for its Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. Dr. Boyd, a prolific, motivational speaker and nationally recognized champion of education, will speak on the relevance and critical need for the increased representation of women and people of color in the high-demand STEM fields. Dr. Boyd is a graduate of Alabama State University, with a professional career spanning three decades at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. She was the first African-American woman to earn a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Yale University, and she made history again in 2014, when she returned to her alma mater to become ASU’s first female president. In 2009, Dr. Boyd was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as a trustee to the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence Foundation. She later served on the President’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans in 2014. This free event takes place at the Missouri Theater on January 23 beginning at 7 p.m. For more information, please visit online.

• The Inclusive Impact Institute presents the 2020 Dr. MLK Candlelight Walk and Memorial Celebration. The program’s theme is What would Dr. King think of the MeToo Movement? The candlelight walk will start at 6:30 p.m. on January 20 at the Armory Sports Center and will proceed to St. Luke United Methodist Church for the memorial celebration. Participants will celebrate and reflect on the life and contributions of Dr. King. Please visit online for additional information.

• Experience the Columbia Values Diversity Celebration, honoring the 2020 theme, Our Dream: The Journey Continues. On January 16, share in a special breakfast program honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and witness the annual Columbia Values Diversity Awards. For additional information, email oca@como.gov or call 573-874-7311.

Eastern Missouri

• The 33rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration at Washington University takes place at Graham Chapel. The event begins at 7 p.m. on Monday, January 20. The Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration is an annual celebration honoring the legacy of Dr. King and the impact he has made on those who carry the torch for humanity. It represents an alliance of dedicated faculty, staff, and students united to realize Dr. King’s vision of hope, freedom for all, and social justice. The theme of the 2020 commemoration is taken from a quote of Dr. King: “The time is always right to do what is right.” The keynote speaker is Chancellor Andrew D. Martin. Marion Crain, Professor of Law and Interim Provost, will provide additional remarks. The commemoration will also include two student choirs, the Washington University Chamber Choir and Visions Gospel Choir, and a performance by Black Anthology, the university’s oldest cultural production. For more information, please visit online or email Rudolph Clay at rudolphc@wustl.edu, or call 314-935-5059.

• Join the St. Louis Art Museum for an annual event commemorating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The program includes a keynote address, The Intersection between Art and Social Justice at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, by Tuliza Fleming, Interim Chief Curator of Visual Arts at the Smithsonian Institution, as well as musical performances by Dello Thedford and the Gospel Symphonic Choir and Ronald Ollie, collector and vocalist. Although the event is free, advance tickets are recommended. For additional information or to reserve tickets, please visit online.

• Celebrate and reflect on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Missouri History Museum throughout the weekend. On January 18, join The Collective STL for an all-levels yoga practice set to live gospel music provided by local choirs. Families can also join Youth Activism and Engagement Workshops, take part in movement workshops with Mama Lisa, and create peace-inspired art. Plus, meet the St. Louis Black Authors of Children’s Literature and enjoy stories and book giveaways while supplies last. On January 19, hear from Rev. Traci Blackmon, Dr. Anthony Witherspoon, and Rev. Kevin Anthony as they reflect on sermons delivered by Dr. King. For more information or to view a schedule of events, please visit online.

National Resources

• For more information on Dr. King’s life and legacy of social justice, plan a visit to The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta. The King Center was opened in 1968, thanks to the dedication of Coretta Scott King, widow of Dr. King, to the ideals of the American Civil Rights Movement. The repository there consists of the papers of Dr. King and those of the organization he co-founded, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, as well as the records of eight major civil rights organizations and of several individuals active in the movement. The archives also include more than 200 oral history interviews with Dr. King’s teachers, friends, family, and civil rights associates. For more information, call 404-526-8900.

• Visit the website of the Corporation for National and Community Service to find out more about the MLK Day of Service. The site includes MLK Day Legacy videos featuring civil rights luminaries Congressman John Lewis, Ruby Bridges, Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, and former U.S. Senator Harris Wofford, reminding us of the importance of keeping Dr. King's legacy of service alive and challenging us to make service a part of our everyday lives. Find an MLK Day of Service project in your community or list your project so others can participate. 

• Visit All For Good to find service opportunities in your specific area.

However you choose to celebrate, we encourage you to seek ways you can work in your community to help make America a place of freedom, opportunity, fairness, and justice, which are hallmarks of the American dream.  Enjoy the holiday, and do something positive in your community.