Missouri Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. State Celebration Commission

01/07/2026

The 40th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Statewide Celebration Kick-Off Program Luncheon for Missouri will be held on Fri., January 19, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at The Coronado Ballroom. Presented by: MOHELA This year’s theme is “Honoring the Dream: 40 Years of Reflection, Resilience and Renewal”. Our Keynote Speaker, Pastor Christopher L. Rogers, Sr., First Baptist Church of Chesterfield, MO, with a feature performance by Get ready to kick off the 40th celebration of Dr. MLK Jr. at the State Luncheon - it's going to be a day filled with inspiration and unity! Special Performances by All Purpose Band ft. Anita Jackson, Cheryl Brown & Adrianne Felton-King
2026 Honorees: Distinguished Chairman’s Award Pastor Christopher Rogers, Sr.
Distinguished Corporate Award: MOHELA,
The People’s Response 2025, Kayla Reed, Executive Director, Action St. Louis Ohun Ashe, Founder, ForTheCultureSTL
Distinguished Social Action: Award Ms. Catina R. Shannon,
Distinguished Community Service Awardees:
Pastor Robert & Kathy Bell, Southeast/ Bootheel
Annelle B. Whitt, J.D., Columbia
Mr. Carlos Nelson, Kansas City
Mr. Ashley Young, Kirksville
Ms. Legacy Jackson, St. Louis
This event is free and open to the public. RSVP is REQUIRED to attend https://moMLK.eventbrite.com. For more information, please call Bennie Gilliam-Williams at (314) 340-3506 or email [email protected]. We'll see you there!

01/11/2025

✨ Join Us Today ! ✨

The 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Kick-Off Program is happening today, Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Harris-Stowe State University!

🌟 This year’s theme, “Harmony in Action: A Journey Towards Unity and Hope,” features:
🎤 Keynote Speaker: Reverend Traci Blackmon
🎶 Music by Jesse D. Williams & Total Praise
🏆 Honoring remarkable community leaders

📍 Where: Dr. Henry Givens, Jr. Administration Building, Main Auditorium
🎟️ FREE and open to all!

Celebrate Dr. King’s legacy with us. See you there! 💛🖤

01/01/2025

The 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Statewide Celebration Kick-Off Program for Missouri will be held on Sat., January 11, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Harris-Stowe State University, Main Auditorium. This year’s theme is “Harmony in Action: A Journey Towards Unity and Hope”. Keynote Speaker Rev. Traci Blackmon, CEO & Founder of HopeBuilders, LLC., with a feature performance by Gospel Recording Artist Jesse D. Williams & Total Praise. Distinguished honorees include Ms. Kim Jayne, St. Louis (MO); Mr. Gentry Trotter, St. Louis (MO); Ms. Vanessa Alexander, Kirksville (MO); Bishop Marvel & First Lady Caroyln Cranford, Bootheel Area; Ms. Carole A. Thomas, Kansas City (MO); The Honorable Yolonda Fountain Henderson, St. Louis (MO); Ms. Elizabeth Morrow, Jefferson City, (MO). This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call Bennie Gilliam-Williams at (314) 340-3506 or email [email protected]. We'll see you there!

The mission of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Commission considers and recommends to individuals and organizations appropriate activities for the recognition and celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in Missouri.

State Commissions:

THE HONORABLE MICHAEL L. PARSON
GOVERNOR

DR. LATONIA COLLINS SMITH
CHAIRWOMAN

DR. DWAUN J. WARMACK
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS

COMMISSIONERS

MS. SHERYL BRANCH-MAXWELL
(SOUTHEAST MISSOURI)

THE HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER II
(KANSAS CITY)

MRS. MERDEAN F. GALES
(ST. LOUIS)

MR. OLLIE GATES
(KANSAS CITY)

MR. EARNEST HART
(ST. LOUIS)

REV. DR. SAMMIE E. JONES
(ST. LOUIS)

MRS. MYRLE MENSEY-SYMONDS
(ST. LOUIS)

ATTY. MICHAEL E. MIDDLETON
(COLUMBIA)

REV. DR. EARL NANCE, JR.
(ST. LOUIS)

MRS. RUTH SMITH
(ST. LOUIS)

MS. BERTHA A. THOMAS
(KIRKSVILLE)

MS. LESSIE J. THOMPSON
(LEE’S SUMMIT)

11/18/2024

Save the Date: The 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Statewide Celebration Kick-Off Program for Missouri will be held on Sat., January 11, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Harris-Stowe State University Main Auditorium. Next year’s theme is “Harmony in Action: A Journey Towards Unity and Hope”

01/06/2024

Happening Today!

The 38th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Statewide Celebration Kick-Off Program for Missouri will be held on Sat., January 6, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at HSSU in HGA's Main Auditorium. This year’s theme is “Keeping the Dream Alive: It Starts With Me”. Keynote Speaker Rev. Dr. Freddy Clark, Shalom Church City of Peace. with a feature performance by Gospel Recording Artist, Jesse D. Williams & Total Praise. Distinguished honorees include Mr. Ronn Webb, Popular Buff (MO); Ms. Alana Green, St. Louis (MO); Ms. Mary Ratliff, Columbia (MO); Mr. Edward Berry, Fulton (Mo); Mr. John Gardner, Kirksville (MO); Mr. Lester Gillespie, Bootheel (Southeast); Mr. David Maddox, Kansas City (MO); Mrs. Ryana Parks-Shaw, Kansas City (MO); Mr. David Tyson Smith, Columbia (MO); Mr. Marlon Wharton, St. Louis(MO). This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call Bennie Gilliam-Williams at (314) 340-3506 or email [email protected]. We'll see you there!

12/16/2023

The 38th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Statewide Celebration Kick-Off Program for Missouri will be held on Sat., January 6, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at HSSU in HGA's Main Auditorium. This year’s theme is “Keeping the Dream Alive: It Starts With Me”. Keynote Speaker Rev. Dr. Freddy Clark, Shalom Church City of Peace. with a feature performance by Gospel Recording Artist, Jesse D. Williams & Total Praise. Distinguished honorees include Mr. Ronn Webb, Popular Buff (MO); Ms. Alana Green, St. Louis (MO); Ms. Mary Ratliff, Columbia (MO); Mr. Edward Berry, Fulton (Mo); Mr. John Gardner, Kirksville (MO); Mr. Lester Gillespie, Bootheel (Southeast); Mr. David Maddox, Kansas City (MO); Mrs. Ryana Parks-Shaw, Kansas City (MO); Mr. David Tyson Smith, Columbia (MO); Mr. Marlon Wharton, St. Louis(MO). This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call Bennie Gilliam-Williams at (314) 340-3506 or email [email protected]. We'll see you there!

12/26/2022

The 37th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Statewide Celebration Kick-Off Program for Missouri will be held on Sat., January 7, 2023, at 3:0 p.m. at HSSU in HGA's Main Auditorium. This year’s theme is “Music "Keeping the Dream - Sounds of Hope, Courage & Unity”. A feature performance by Gospel Recording Artist, Steller Award-winner Brian Courtney Wilson. Distinguished honorees include Ms. Darlene Green, Lady Merdean F. Gales, Ms. Carolyn Seward, The Taylor Center, Temple Complex Church of God in Christ- Bootheel, Dr. Lester Woods, Jr. – Columbia, Rev. Dr. E.G. Shields, Sr.- St. Louis, Ms. Stephanie McGrew-Kirksville, Mr. William Wells- Kansas City. This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are available at https://www.hssu.edu/rsp_content_cus_ticket.html?wid=82&pid=2492 For more information, please call Bennie Gilliam-Williams at (314) 340-3506 or email [email protected]. We'll see you there!

Harris-Stowe State University offers bachelor degrees in a variety of disciplines across business, education, science, technology, and math.

10/06/2022

Harris-Stowe State University will host Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Global Youth Leadership Conference

Harris-Stowe State University, The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc., and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. State Celebration Commission
partner for a two-day Youth Empowerment Conference

ST. LOUIS – Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU), in collaboration with the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. State Celebration Commission, will host the Martin Luther King, Jr. Global Youth Leadership Conference. The conference will kick off on Thursday, October 6, 2022, with a Community Youth Panel from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Emerson Performance Center on the campus of Harris-Stowe State University.

Radio personality BJ “The DJ” Holiday will serve as the emcee, and the panel will consist of State Representative Kimberly-Ann Collins, 77th District Missouri; Atty. Kimberly Gardner, City of St. Louis Circuit Attorney; Mr. Farrakhan Shegog, Young Voices with Action President and CEO; Alderman Michael Gras, City of St. Louis 28th Ward; and Councilman Gary Johnson, 3rd Ward of Jennings, MO.

A pre-reception will occur from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and the program will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

HSSU's Special Assistant to the President, Bennie Gilliam-Williams, said the event's goal is to set students up for success as they graduate high school and enter college.

"HSSU is excited to partner with the Memorial Foundation to help this region's next young generation leaders to define their passion and help build a better region for St. Louis," Gilliam-Williams said.

The second part of the two-day event, High School Day, will take place on Friday, October 7, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. More than 14 area high schools have been invited to Harris-Stowe for an exciting day featuring guest speakers, presentations, and a Greek yard show. There will also be giveaways, including beats headphones and apple watches. Students are encouraged to bring a copy of their transcripts to apply for admission to HSSU at the event. In addition, HSSU's Office of Admissions will be providing on-site scholarships.

02/01/2022

We are please to share with you The 36th Annual Kick-off Program for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Statewide Celebration Commission for the State of Missouri. This program was held on Saturday, January 15, 2022. This year theme was “Keep, Dreaming, Believing & Moving Toward Social & Economic Justice.”. We were proud to honor some of Missouri leaders that demonstrate the values and teaching of Dr. King.

01/17/2022

Today we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with day of service giving back to the community.

01/17/2022

HAPPENING TODAY- PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD TO ANYONE IN NEED! The Urban League will be prepared to serve up to 2,500 families with FOOD, TOILETRIES & PPE MATERIALS ON MLK DAY from 12-3 at our regional headquarters. We give a special thanks to our co-sponsors: The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. State Celebration Commission, staff & volunteers that will make this event possible for the community!