ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, the Office of Human Rights and Equity (OHRE), and the Howard County Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission invite you to join them for multiple events next weekend to honor the life and legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Starting at 6:00 p.m. next Sunday, January 18th, there will be a celebration in the Smith Theatre at Howard Community College’s (HCC) Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center, followed by a “Day of Service” on Monday, January 19th.
Our annual MLK Celebration and Day of Service promotes unity, understanding, and offers meaningful opportunities for our residents to learn about Dr. King and emulate his commitment to community stewardship while promoting equality and justice. This year’s commemorative activities affords us the opportunity to acknowledge and thank our students and community leaders serving, protecting, and advocating for all of us here in Howard County, as well as spark conversations, inspire change, and create a positive impact in across our communities. Together, we can uplift the legacy of Dr. King and ensure that Howard County is the best place to live, work, play, grow, and thrive for all.
This Sunday’s family-friendly, multi-cultural celebration will include performances by diverse community groups, a keynote address by Gregory Yancey, and recognition of the 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Living the Dream” Award recipients and student essay, oratory, and poster contest winners. The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a reception featuring light fare served and live entertainment, followed by an awards ceremony and celebration at 7:00 p.m. To reserve your spot for this year’s event, visit OHRE's "Annual Howard County Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration" Eventbrite website today.
More than 55 years after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his legacy remains as urgent and relevant as ever. Dr. King reminded us that ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,’ and that truth continues to guide our work today. His leadership was rooted in humanity, dignity, and moral courage, values that transcend time. This Celebration and Day of Service call on us not only to honor his memory, but to actively live out his vision through service, equity, and collective responsibility for one another.
“Living the Dream” Award and Student Essay, Oratory, and Poster Contests Winners:
The “Living the Dream” Award honors individuals and organizations embody the principles and ideals of Dr. King through community service. This year’s honorees are Jasleen Multani, Ellison Taylor, and the Luminus Network, Inc., recognized for their devotion to the community.
For the student essay, oratory, and poster contests, students were asked to interpret this year’s theme, “How can I model inclusion and acceptance to create real change in the world?” For the essay contest, middle and high school students had to discuss how inclusion and acceptance can promote positive changes within themselves, schools, and communities. For the oratory contest, middle and high school students had to share a story about a time when they practiced inclusion and acceptance to create real change in their school or community. For the poster contest, elementary, middle, and high school students created an original piece of artwork using a medium of their choosing that shows how to use kindness to make positive changes in themselves, schools, and communities. The contest winners are:
Essay Contest – Middle School
- 1st Place: Deebsha Khadaka, 8th Grade, Patuxent Valley Middle School
Essay Contest – High School
- 1st Place: Grace Baker, 10th Grade, River Hill High School
- 2nd Place: Dominic Ye, 10th Grade, Reservoir High School
Oratory Contest – Middle School
- 1st Place: Juha Ho, 6th Grade, Clarksville Middle School
Oratory Contest – High School
- 1st Place: Sravika Bolla, 11th Grade, Mt. Hebron High School
- 2nd Place: Chimalum Okoli, 9th Grade, Marriotts Ridge High School
Poster Contest – Elementary School
- 1st Place: Kono Paige Olowokakoko, 5th Grade, Thunder Hill Elementary School
- 2nd Place: Shaheer Ahmed Abbasi, 4th Grade, Holifield Station Elementary School
Poster Contest – Middle School
- 1st Place: Reese Aderton, 6th Grade, Clarksville Middle School
- 2nd Place: Amsal Shaheer Abbasi, 8th Grade, Connely School of the Holy Child
Winners receive a certificate, cash prize and their names listed on the “Office of Human Rights & Equity’s Contests & Awards” website.
“The Celebration and Day of Service demonstrates the lasting impact of King’s teachings. As Chair of the MLK Commission, I am honored to be part of an organization that not only memorializes Dr. King's legacy but also inspires our community to take meaningful action,” said Kurt Wall, Chair, Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission Chair. “Together, we can build bridges of understanding and create positive change that echoes Dr. King's vision of equality, justice, and unity.”
“Day of Service”:
Residents are also encouraged to participate in the County’s “Day of Service” project on Monday, January 19th. On the 19th, OHRE and the Commission will host several in-person, ranging from food drives to activities at the County’s Harriett Tubman Cultural Center in Columbia. For a complete list of activities, visit the Commission’s website.
For more information about this year’s celebration and/or Day of Service activities or to learn more about the Commission, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/OHRE-mlk or contact OHRE at 410-313-6430 or email mlk@howardcountymd.gov.