Like last year, many of this year’s events in honor of the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be held virtually due to the ongoing pandemic. Below, find just a few of the virtual, in-person, and hybrid events to explore and celebrate Dr. King’s legacy and how it still resonates today.
January 15
MLK Everyday 2022 Trust & Healing in the Beloved Community
January 15-17 | in-person and virtual
8:30 am – 12 pm
St. Cloud State University’s three-day celebration continues this year with multi-day, multi-generational, and hybrid events that raise up the theme “Trust & Healing in the Beloved Community.” All activities take place January 15-17, 2022.
This year’s theme is aimed at providing attendees with tools to create and maintain meaningful relationships even through times when things are uncertain.
The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Artika Tyner, a passionate educator, author, speaker, and advocate for justice. She is currently at the University of St. Thomas School of Law and is the founding director of the Center on Race, Leadership, and Social Justice. Free.
For more info, visit bit.ly/MLKEveryday
MLK NOW 2022
10 am – 8 pm @ Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd Ave. S., Mpls.
Featuring numerous notable local speakers, this event came into fruition after the uprising of George Floyd and a long history of racial disparities for Blacks in Minnesota.
With the goal of changing the socio-economic status of Blacks, BOB Rewards Clubs, which helps Black-owned businesses become more sustainable through business development, is offering forums on topics pertinent to the Black community Free.
For more info, go to www.mlknow2022.com
January 16
Sweet Potato Comfort Pie: 8th Annual MLK Holiday Weekend of Service
2 – 4:30 pm | in-person and virtual
With the theme of “Character Values: Upholding Our Beloved Community,” the Sweet Potato Comfort Pie program returns once again to demonstrate love through the sharing of pies.
A Zoom event will feature DJ Freesia Towle, the procession of pies, and facilitated story circles to discuss issues of race in America and talk about who the 93 pies will be gifted to.
The 2022 “Batter That Matters Award” recipients are mother/daughter activists Jewelean Jackson and Thandisizwe Jackson-Nisan, Kate Towle, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
A special story circle dialogue with Alice White, Golden Valley Police Commander; Angela Rose Myers Morales, former president of the NAACP, Minneapolis Branch; Roslyn Harmon, executive director of the Dispute Resolution Center in St. Paul; and students from Breck, Roosevelt and Osseo High Schools.
Registrants will pick up pies at Breck School, 123 Ottawa Ave. N., Golden Valley, MN to be distributed to honorees.
Register and find more info at bit.ly/SweetPotatoZoom
41st Annual Concert: “Messengers of Peace”
4 pm | virtual
This virtual MLK tribute will be live-streamed from Ted Mann Concert Hall. Intermixing the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with musical performances from U of M students and the greater Twin Cities community, the concert will be hosted and curated by U of M School of Music alumnus G. Phillip Shoultz, III of VocalEssence. This is a free event. Registration is not required.
For more info, visit z.umn.edu/MLK22
Community Reading: “Letter From A Birmingham Jail”
4 – 5 pm | virtual
Enjoy a live community reading of Dr. King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Community members will be able to participate in a moderated discussion during the reading using the comments in Facebook. Visit the link below to sign up to be a reader. This event is sponsored by the Duluth Branch of the NAACP and Peace Church and organized by Reverend Jim Mitulski.
For more info, go to duluthnaacp.org/mlk
Robert Robinson Presents “A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
5 pm @ Crooners Supper Club, The Dunsmore Jazz Room, 6161 Hwy 65 N.E., Mpls.
Savor the soulful and stirring sounds of one of Minnesota’s premier voices to celebrate MLK Day. This is an all-ages show. Dinner and cocktail seating and service begins 60 minutes before showtimes. $35.
For more info, visit bit.ly/RRobinsonMLK
January 17
2022 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Breakfast
8:45 – 10:30 am | virtual
CNN host and Senior Legal Analyst Laura Coates will headline this year’s annual breakfast. A former federal prosecutor, Coates served as assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, as well as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.
Spoken word artist H. Adam Harris will perform, as well Twin Cities youth choir Known. MPR’s Angela Davis will serve as host.
Individual tickets are $25. Proceeds go towards the UNCF Twin Cities MLK Legacy Scholarship Fund, which helps local students go to college.
For more info, visit www.mlkbreakfast.com
24th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
9 am – 1 pm | in-person and virtual
Powderhorn Park, 3400 15th Ave. S., Minneapolis
Join with community members in-person or virtually for this all-ages event. The two-hour gathering showcases local visual and performing artists. Limited seats are available for those who’d like to attend in person. The celebration will also be streamed on Facebook and YouTube.
Register to attend at www.ppna.org/mlkcelebration
2022 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration
11 am | virtual
Minnesotans of all ages are invited to join Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan for the 36th Annual State of Minnesota Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This year’s theme is “Beloved Community in Action,” in reference to Dr. King’s 1957 quote, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
Throughout the celebration, you’ll hear Minnesotans reflect on what Dr. King means to them and how they’re building a thriving society that embodies love and justice and works to end racism and poverty.
The celebration is a 25-minute recorded video and premieres on the governor’s YouTube channel.
For more info, visit mn.gov/mdhr/mlk
Screening: “Dr. King’s Words into Action: Black Empowerment Across Generations”
11 am –12 pm | virtual
The Duluth NAACP invites viewers to a Facebook screening of a 20-minute documentary that features conversations between two generations of Duluth residents. Perspectives are shared about quotes from Dr. King that range from voting rights and economic justice to criminal justice, and health and environmental equity.
The viewing will be followed immediately by a call to action from committee chairs of the Duluth Branch of the NAACP.
For more info and the Facebook link, go to duluthnaacp.org/MLK
MPRB Annual King Holiday Celebration
6:30 – 8 pm | in-person and virtual
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center, 4055 Nicollet Ave. S., Mpls.
This year’s Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) free event will once again be emceed by Chad Jackson, manager of corporate partner sales with the Minnesota Twins.
Adair Mosley, president and CEO of Pillsbury United Communities, will serve as the keynote speaker. Sandra Richardson, MLK Legacy Council member, will also speak, with entertainment from Vocal Essence Singers of This Age. The MPRB will present its “Living the Dream” award to Willie B. Jasper.
Due to the COVID omicron variant, this event will be a pre-registered, limited-capacity event with social distancing in place and masks required. If you would like to reserve a seat, please click here to register free of charge. If you are unable to attend, the event will be available to view live online through YouTube at https://youtu.be/QSNuZJWuM80
For more info, visit www.minneapolisparks.org/MLK or call 612-230-6400.
January 19
3rd Annual Celebration, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
5 – 7 pm | virtual
With the theme of “Building CommUNITY: Urging Action, Racial Equity and Justice for the Beloved Community,” this university-wide annual event features a keynote address by attorney and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, J.D., as well as select student creative expressions. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter is among the invitees. This is a free virtual event but registration is requested.
For more info, go to bit.ly/METROMLK
January 20
Amplifying Beloved Community
11:30 am | virtual
Minneapolis College President Sharon Pierce and Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon will be featured at this virtual event to reflect on Dr. King’s life’s work to press for equality and the mid-century Civil Rights Movement he led.
This virtual event showcases winning scholarship entries from students’ essays on King’s legacy and how it paved the way for overcoming today’s barriers to equity and justice. A town hall meeting will take place at 3 pm.
Find more info and register at minneapolis.edu/mlk
January 22
Screening: “39 Seconds”
7 – 10 pm @ Capri Theater, 2027 W Broadway Ave., Mpls.
The feature-length documentary/live-action film “39 seconds” explores a forgotten piece of American history. With a cast composed of top Minnesota talent, original score by Jim Oestereich, and narration by Payton Woodsno, viewers will witness the true-life story of one of the greatest baseball players in the world, John Wesley Donaldson.
The Minnesota Historical Society presents this film in conjunction with 612IM Film Productions. $10.
For more info, visit www.mnhs.org/event/8974
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