Below we’ve compiled a list of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events happening around the Twin Cities and beyond, in honor of Dr. King’s legacy and holiday, January 18.
Do you know of an event we missed? Feel free to send your suggestions to msrnewsonline@spokesman.recorder.com.
Wednesday, January 13
4-5:15pm, The Schubert Club’s KidsJam, Maplewood Library, 3025 Southlawn Drive, Maplewood
The Schubert Club is partnering with the teens of the Maplewood library to play, listen, learn, and create with music. This month the diverse and eclectic program brings Douglas Ewart, composer, improviser, sculptor and maker of masks and instruments, to share African percussion and motion with tops. Ages 12-19 are welcome.
This event is free. For more information, call Amy Boese at 651-724-6065.
Thursday, January 14
6:30 pm, Mayor’s MLK Reception, The Underground, Lower Level, 506 W. Michigan St., Duluth
A chance for the community to come together in unity amidst our diversity. This event is part of the Duluth-Twin Ports MLK Holiday Celebration.
For more information, go to http://mlk-duluth.org.
Friday, January 15
7 pm, Friends School’s MLK Celebration, The O’Shaughnessy, 2004 Randolph Ave., St. Paul
Join the Friends School of Minnesota for this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration focusing on peace through a variety of songs, dances, multimedia and spoken word performances. All students in kindergarten to eighth grade will be part of this year’s celebration.
This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 651-917-0636 or go to https://fsmn.org/news-events/martin-luther-king-jr-celebration-2016.
Saturday, January 16
2-3 pm, Global Folk: West African Drum and Dance, Walker Library, 2880 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. Experience the rhythms and culture of West Africa through the infectious energy of Duniya Drum and Dance. This event is free. For more information, call 612-543-8400.
7 pm (community meal at 6 pm), Jam’n with MLK, Peace United Church of Christ, 1111 N. 11th Ave. E., Duluth
This evening will be a night of songs that celebrate the contributions of African Americans. Additionally, we will have some brief stories of local individuals who have contributed significantly to Duluth’s history.
This event is part of the Duluth-Twin Ports MLK Holiday Celebration. For more information, go to http://mlk-duluth.org.
Saturday, January 16, 23 & 30 and February 13
1-4 pm, Science Fusion, Science Museum of Minnesota, 120 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul
Meet science and educational professionals, learn about what they do through interactive displays and presentations, and discover the inspiring contributions they’ve made to technology, education, health care, and innovation in Minnesota.
The Science Fusion Festival includes African Americans in Science (Jan. 16), ¡Amantes de La Ciencia! (Lovers of Science!) (Jan. 23), American Indians in Science (Jan. 30) and Asian Americans in Science (Feb. 13). All events are held on Saturdays from 1-4 pm.
On Science Fusion days, up to four children get in free with each full price adult ticket purchased. Regular admission is $13; children ages 4-12 and seniors 60 and older are $10. Reduced-price admission for people with limited income is available for those who qualify.
For tickets or more information, call 651-221-9444 or go to www.smm.org/sciencefusion.
Sunday, January 17
5 pm, MLK Community Ecumenical Service, St. Mark AME Church, 530 N. 5th Ave. East, Duluth
Recognizing that Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man of God, the community is invited to share in an ecumenical worship service honoring Dr. King’s legacy.
This event is part of the Duluth-Twin Ports MLK Holiday Celebration. For more information, go to http://mlk-duluth.org.
Monday, January 18
All day, honor and celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through volunteer service.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday is observed as a day of service that reflects King’s life and teaching — bringing people together, breaking down barriers, and responding to community needs through citizen action.
To find volunteer sites for the MLK, Jr., Day of Service, contact Hands On Twin Cities at 612-379-4900 or info@handsontwincities.org, or go to www.handsontwincities.org or www.mlkday.gov.
7 am, Holiday Breakfast, Minneapolis Convention Center, Ballroom A, 1301 Second Ave. S., Minneapolis
The General Mills Foundation and the United Negro College Fund present the 26th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Breakfast. With a theme of “Civil and Right: Are You Living the Dream?” the 2016 breakfast will include performances by Voices of Culture and Shiloh Gospel Choir led by Pastor Steven Daniels. Lifetime Legend Awards will be presented to Justice Alan Page and Judge Michael J. Davis. Attendees also will be encouraged to consider service opportunities.
This year’s keynote speaker is Deval Patrick, the 71st governor of Massachusetts.
This event is sold out as of press time (tickets are $30) but will be broadcast live at 8 am on Twin Cities Public Television and streamed online at www.tpt.org. For more information, email contact@mlkbreakfast.com or go to www.mlkbreakfast.com.
7-9:30 am, Community MLK Holiday Breakfasts
Attend one of the community breakfasts to celebrate the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Participants will be served breakfast, enjoy a neighborhood program created by local community volunteers, watch the broadcast of the 2016 MLK Breakfast in Minneapolis, and talk with neighbors about issues affecting our communities.
All Twin Cities-area breakfasts request a $5 donation (children 12 and under are free) and start at the same time:
Eastside/Downtown St. Paul Breakfast, First Covenant Church, 1280 Arcade St., St. Paul
Summit-University Breakfast, Mount Zion Temple, 1300 Summit Ave., St. Paul
West Side Breakfast, Faith United Methodist Church, 1530 Oakdale Ave., West St. Paul
Macalester College Breakfast, Alexander G. Hill Ballroom, Kagin Commons, 1600 Grand Ave., St. Paul
Northeast Suburbs Breakfast, White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church, 328 Maple St., Mahtomedi
North Minneapolis/Northern Suburbs Breakfast, Brooklyn United Methodist Church, 7200 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center
New Brighton Breakfast, United Theological Seminary, McMillian Building, 3000 Fifth Street NW, New Brighton
Registration is required. To register, call 651-646-8805, or go to www.spacc.org/mlk.
Two breakfasts will be held outside the Twin Cities area:
Duluth Breakfast, Holy Family Catholic Church, 2430 W 3rd St.
This breakfast is free, with no registration required. Food is first come, first served. For more information, call 218-722-4445 or go to www.mlk-duluth.org.
River Falls, Wisconsin Breakfast, St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, 211 East Division St.
For more information, call 715-425-1870.
9 am —12 pm, Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Diversity Career, Convention Center, 1301 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis
If you are unemployed or interested in a new career, here’s some exciting news! The MLKJr. Holiday Diversity Job Fair is coming to the Minneapolis area and everyone is invited. This event provides a great opportunity to meet face-to-face with companies that are hiring and looking for experienced candidates just like you.
So tidy up your resume and get ready to jump start your new year with a new career!
For more information, visit: http://www.naacp.org/
9 am — 1 pm, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Statewide Celebration, Ordway Center, 345 Washington St., St. Paul
The State of Minnesota Governor’s Council on the MLK Day Celebration presents an annual program that reflects the principles and values extolled by the civil rights leader.
This year’s event includes music by Jamar Esaw & Triad4Christ and dance performance by Bomba Umoya. The keynote speaker will be Talila A. Lewis, founder of Helping Educate to Advance the Rights of the Deaf (HEARD), who will talk about the crossectionality of race, disability, and gender and its role in today’s justice system.
For more information about the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Statewide Celebration, email mnmlkholiday@gmail.com or mnmlkholidaysponsor@gmail.com, or go to www.facebook.com/mnmlkholiday or @mnmlkday on Twitter.
9:30 am, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events, Luther Seminary, Olson Campus Center, 1490 Fulham St., St. Paul
Celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a day of events that reflect on the significance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s continuing influence.
The day will begin with keynote speaker Nekima Levy-Pounds, an award-winning professor of law at the University of St. Thomas School of Law and the founding director of the Community Justice Project, a civil rights legal clinic.
At 11 am, there will be a worship service led by Rev. Paul Slack, president of ISAIAH MN and pastor of New Creation Church in Minneapolis.
At 1 pm, there will be a panel discussion on “How Do We Lift Every Voice?”
A free lunch will be provided. These events are free and open to the public. For more information, call 651-641-3456 or go to www.luthersem.edu/calendar.
10:45 am, Duluth-Twin Ports MLK March and Rally
The march will start at Washington Center, 310 N. 1st Ave. W., Duluth, and end at the rally location, DECC Auditorium, 350 Harbor Drive. In case of extreme cold, the march will be shortened and head through the skywalk in downtown Duluth to the DECC.
The rally features a variety of local speakers and performers to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King and to work to build the beloved community that he envisioned in the Twin Ports.
This event is part of the Duluth-Twin Ports MLK Holiday Celebration.
For more information, go to http://mlk-duluth.org.
11 am — 2 pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration, Powderhorn Park Community Center, 3400 15th Ave. S., Minneapolis
Activities teach kids about Dr. King, tolerance, friendship, and creating neighborhood hope. Entertainment features Aztec dancers, a youth choir, West African drumming and hip hop. Special youth activities include a civil rights Internet scavenger hunt and West African drum lessons.
Lunch is prepared by Youth Farm & Market. “Feeding the Dream” food drive is a part of this event, so join the park in providing those in need with nonperishable food items.
The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, call the Powderhorn Community Center at 612-370-4960.
12 pm, MLK Day of Service, University of Minnesota-Morris, 600 East 4th Street, Morris
The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is an opportunity for the entire community to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service opportunities, discussion, a march (4 pm weather permitting), and a keynote speaker (5 pm).
At 5:30 pm, there will be a free community meal. Transportation and lunch are included for free. Registration is only needed if individuals would like to participate in the service projects.
For more information or to register for service projects, call 888-866-3382 toll free or go to www.morris.umn.edu/equitydiversity/multiethnic/mlkdayofservice.
1 pm, MLK Convocation: Race, Rap & Reality: Keynote Speaker: Chuck D, Hoversten Chapel Augsburg College, Minneapolis
Augsburg’s Colleges’ Annual MLK Convocation, Race, Rap and Reality: Supporting Our Youth In The Spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As They Face The Unique Challenges of Today with Ketnote Speaker Chuck D of the Legendary Hip Hop Group Public Enemy!
Performances By:
Madiba (E.G. Bailey & Sha Cage)
Dahlia Jones
Malick Ceesay (STK Augsburg)
Truth Maze (Omega Zulu TC)
DJ Francisco (Omega Zulu TC)
Hosted by Student Body President: Duina Hernandez
Free and Open to the Public.
For more info go here: https://www.facebook.com/events/438914972966915
3-4:30 pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, Green Central Gym Park, 3416 4th Ave. S., Minneapolis
Celebrate the history of Martin Luther King, Jr. by enjoying recitals, choirs, music, dance, a guest speaker, and an old-fashioned soul food dinner.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 612-370-4918.
3-6:30 pm, HBCU College Fair, 401 E. 41st Street, St. Peter’s AME Church, Minneapolis
Don’t miss the annual HBCU College Fair for middle and senior high school students! This year’s keynote speaker is Jessica Johnson, one of Root Magazine’s Top 100 Emerging Leaders and Executive Director of The Scholarship Academy.
Go here to register: http://mneep.org/2016-hbcu-fair.
6:30-7:30 pm, Celebration and MLK Award Presentation, Martin Luther King Park, 4055 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board will present the annual MLK Award at an event that includes speakers, music and other performances and the presentation of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s Living the Dream Award.
Refreshments will be served.
This event is free for all ages. For more information, call 612-370-4908.
9 am —12 pm, Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Diversity Career, Convention Center, 1301 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis
If you are unemployed or interested in a new career, here’s some exciting news! The MLK Jr. Holiday Diversity Job Fair is coming to the Minneapolis area and everyone is invited. This event provides a great opportunity to meet face-to-face with companies that are hiring and looking for experienced candidates just like you.
So tidy up your resume and get ready to jump start your new year with a new career!
For more information, visit: http://www.naacp.org/page/event/detail/wrt3.
Thursday, January 21
6-7:30 pm, 35th Annual Martin Luther King Tribute, University of Minnesota West Bank, Ted Mann Concert Hall, 2106 4th St. S., Minneapolis
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Tribute honors both Dr. King and the late Univ. of MN School of Music professor Reginald Buckner, who founded this event.
The tribute will feature Committed, a Grammy-nominated a cappella group and winner of The Sing Off, plus a performance by Chicago native and Minneapolis-based jazz vocalist Pippi Ardennia. The celebration is a joint program of the University of Minnesota’s Office for Equity and Diversity and the School of Music.
Parking is available in the 21st Ave. ramp, one block southwest of the concert hall.Admission is free.
For more information, or for disability accommodations, contact the Office for Equity and Diversity at oed@umn.edu or 612-624-0594, or go to https://diversity.umn.edu/mlktribute.
Do you know of more MLK, Jr. events to be added to our list? Feel free to send your suggestions to msrnewsonline@spokesman.recorder.com.
Updated 1/15/2016; 4:16 pm
