Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Events in Minneapolis honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Minnesota African American Heritage Museum & Gallery
Visit the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum & Gallery which just opened in 2018. Currently on exhibit is the popular "Unbreakable: Celebrating the Resilience of African Americans in Minnesota." Admission is free and the museum is open from Tuesday through Saturday.
The 38th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert
When: January 20, 2019
Where: Ted Mann Concert Hall
A not to be missed multi-disciplinary celebration intermixing the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with musical performances. Featuring local artists curated by U of M alumnus G. Phillip Shoultz, III of VocalEssence.
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King: A Concert with Robert Robinson
When: January 20, 2019
Where: The Dunsmore Room at Crooners
Spend the evening listening to local musician Robert Robinson. Who will honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with his gospel and contemporary music.
Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
When: January 21, 2019
Where: Powderhorn Recreation Center
Each year hundreds of Twin Cities community members come together to celebrate the life and work of Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr at Powderhorn Park. The event features local performers, artists, free books for the first 200 kids and a community meal. During the event food is collected for various organizations.
MLK Holiday Breakfast
When: January 21, 2019
Where: The Armory
Each year, the General Mills Foundation and UNCF present an annual MLK Holiday Breakfast to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year's keynote speaker is Emmy Award-winning news anchor and CNN journalist Don Lemon.
Live Broadcast of MLK Holiday Breakfast
When: January 21, 2019
Where: Judson Memorial Baptist Church
With the help of countless volunteers, Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul hosts breakfasts at multiple neighborhood locations, featuring a live broadcast of the General Mills event as well as a hot breakfast and local programming. Reservations are required and are only $5.
The Martin Luther King, Jr., Convocation
When: January 21, 2019
Where: Augsburg College, Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center
Terrance Kwame-Ross an Associate Professor in the Education Department, Augsburg University will be leading the talk "Our Conversation with Dr. King: Class in Session. Dr. Kwame-Ross has among other things taught at the elementary and middle-level grades in public schools, Co-founded and served as Principal and Director of New City School, Created community-base after-school programs for young people for creative self-expression; Served as a curriculum developer, trainer, and consultant to many formal and non-formal organizations locally and nationally and Worked in residential treatment programs, and camping settings, directing and facilitating multi-cultural programs for the Wilder Foundation, St. Paul, Mn. He also served as Clinical Supervisor for My Home Inc., a community-based African-American Transition Institute in St. Paul, MN, where he supervised and led men’s parenting, anger, and domestic abuse programs and groups for 18 years for Black and Brown males and their families.
A Change Is Gonna Come - Wee Willie Walker Remembers MLK
When: January 21, 2019
Where: The Dunsmore Room at Crooners
Celebrate Martin Luther King Day with 'Soul Survivor' Wee Willie Walker. Willie was a member of the gospel group the Redemption Harmonizers when he left Memphis and headed to Minneapolis in 1960. He defected with a fellow band mate and has kept the Twin Cities his home. Since then his voice has been featured in the Royal Jubileers, Willie & The Bees, The Valdons, Salt, Pepper & Spice, We “R,” the Butanes and along side Paul Metsa as well many other performances with the Twin Cities blues and soul contingency. Willie brought Memphis to Minneapolis. His carefree attitude is true South.
Celebration and Engagement
When: January 25, 2019
Where: Minneapolis Community & Technical College
The life and works of Martin Luther King, Jr. have been celebrated and memorialized at Minneapolis College since 1991 when Arthur Ashe shared his life experiences in a dynamic and provocative presentation. Inspired by the teachings of Yolanda and Bernice King, the celebration began incorporating service work as one of the major activities of the celebration. Rooted in its long tradition of celebration and service, the 2019 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration is framed by the Kwanzaa principle of Collective Work and Responsibility.
We Shall Overcome – A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Featuring Damien Sneed
When: February 8, 2019
Where: Ordway Concert Hall
Inspired by the words and action of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., producer and musical director Damien Sneed’s We Shall Overcome showcases repertoire from across the African-American music traditions with interwoven spoken word from Dr. King’s recorded speeches. This production ties together a living lineage of music and culture that includes traditional gospel, modern gospel, classical, jazz, Broadway and spirituals, from Aretha Franklin to Wynton Marsalis, Duke Ellington to Stevie Wonder.
A Concert with Ms. Bettie Mae Fikes
When: February 20, 2019
Where: Coffman Theater -Coffman Memorial Union
Speaking Truth to Power - Reconciliation and Healing Series presents Ms. Bettie Mae Fikes: "Touching Hearts While Healing Mine: Storytelling and Songs of the Civil Rights Movement" Featuring: The Wayman A.M.E. Church Men's Profit of Praise, Minneapolis, MN - Batume Gingery, Black Panther Chicago 1969 & Jazz Drummer, & Pierre Lewis, Keyboardist Commodores. Gospel and Blues singer, Ms. Bettie Mae Fikes, known as the "Voice of Selma" was born in Selma, Alabama and is a descendant of a long line of country gospel singers and preachers.