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The Howard County Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission (MLK) was established by order of the Howard County Executive to encourage and coordinate appropriate ceremonies and activities honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. Commissioners are appointed by the County Executive to serve an initial term of two years. Each year, the MLK celebration takes place on the third Sunday of January. The Day of Service takes place the next day on the third Monday of January. The Day of Service provides a variety of service opportunities throughout the community that is representative of Dr. King’s dedication to servant leadership.
Link to Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission Contests.
Join us at the Ridgley Run Community Center for our monthly food distribution Pop-up Pantry in collaboration with the Harriet Tubman Foundation. If you'd like to volunteer to help us sort and distribute food to the community, come at 8:30 AM.
Join us for a Film Viewing at 5pm on January 12th at the HCLS Miller Library Branch followed by a panel discussion @ 7 PM.
Click HERE to register!
"Shared Legacies" is being offered as an upcoming film and panel discussion program on January 12, 2023 as part of the Howard County Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission Celebration programming. The event is provided to you in part by the Howard County Library System’s Racial Equity Initiative, and has been organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Howard County, the African American Community Roundtable, and the Howard County NAACP. The film "Shared Legacies" can be streamed anytime between January 5th-12th. When you sign up for your ticket on Eventbrite, you will be prompted to select either the in-person or virtual viewing option.
We invite everyone to join us for an in-person viewing of the film on January 12th at the HCLS Miller Library Branch at 5:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m. the film will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Rabbi Craig Axler, Rev. Dr. Barbara Morton (board member NAACP HC), Judge Becca Niburg (PATH liaison from Beth Shalom Congregation and board member NAACP HC), college student Kaia Godsey, and high school student Sydney Barnes. The panel will be moderated by John Wesley (Baltimore Office of Equity and Civil Rights and formerly six years as Housing Discrimination Investigator for the Howard County Office of Human Rights).
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity, and Howard County Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. Holiday Commission invite you to our annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday celebration.
This family-friendly, in-person event will take place at Howard Community Horowitz Center Smith Theatre on January, 15, 2023 at 2:00 PM.
The celebration will include a keynote address from Howard Community College's president, Dr. Daria Willis; performances by diverse community groups, and recognition of the 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Living the Dream” award recipients and student essay, oratory and poster contest winners.
The “Living the Dream” Award honors an individual and an organization who exemplify the work and legacy of Dr. King. This year’s honorees are Mae. A Beale and Success in Style of Howard County, MD for their devotion to the community.
For the student essay, oratory and poster contests, students were asked to reflect upon this year’s contest theme, “Promoting Peace: within yourself, your community and the world!"
The reception commences at 2:00 PM, followed by the 3:00 PM celebration.
Download a Celebration Program HERE!
Join us at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center, 8045 Harriet Tubman Lane, Columbia, MD 21044, from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. for an immersive MLK experience.
We'll begin with a short program featuring remarks from Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and he'll ring the bell to official begin the days activities! Attendees will be able to get COVID and flu vaccinations from the Howard County Health Department, children will be able to participate in a Caring Craft Corner organized by Columbia Community Care, visit the Harriet Tubman Library for an MLK Read-in, as well as sit in workshops presented by HopeWorks. You can register for the Vaccination Clinic and register the HopeWorks Workshops below.
Register for COVID & FLU Vaccinations with the Howard County Health Department
Registration Link: https://www.marylandvax.org/appointment/en/reg/2012466769
Donate Items to the Community Action Council
Did you know that 1 and 4 Howard County residents struggle to make ends meet? You can make a difference by donating to the Community Action Council. Their mission is resolving the community’s needs quickly, strategically, thoughtfully, and always with compassion. They strive to actualize opportunities within reach of the families they serve. By layering their four critical services of housing assistance, food assistance, energy and weatherization assistance, and early childhood education, they guide a family from crisis to stability and ultimately to self-sufficiency. This can help create a pathway through and out poverty or just provide a hand up when one is needed. No matter who seeks their services or why, their priority is always Howard County families’ long-term stability. Bring your items to the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center during our MLK Day of Service and the Community Action Council will take it from there!
You can also donate online at https://tinyurl.com/muvv5hyz
Hopeworks Virtual Teen Listening Session
"I Can I Will: A Virtual Teen Listening Session"
Monday, January 16, 2023
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
This coming MLK day, HopeWorks' Youth Leaders strive to engage and continue these important conversations of non-violence, peace, and social justice that Martin Luther King, Jr. advocated for. Young people ages 12 to 18 are invited to join HopeWorks’ Youth Leaders as teens engage in conversation around non-violence, peace, and social justice. Conversation will involve how these topics may or may not show up in teens' daily lives and how today's realities impact their visibility. We hope to learn and share with each other in a way that can provide the most relief. This event is sponsored by the Howard County Government: MLK Jr. Holiday Commission.
Registration Link: www.hopeworksofhc.org/events
HopeWorks In-Person "I Can, I Will Create Peace" Workshop
January 16, 2023 @ 2:00 PM, Harriet Tubman Center
Everyone can do something to create peace. In this interactive workshop, presented by HopeWorks, we will talk about all the things – big and small –
that we can do to create peaceful, healthy relationships and communities. HopeWorks, in partnership with the Howard County Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday Commission, presents the "I Can, I Will Create Peace" family-friendly event, where we will discuss ways that we can all create peace, while we create art with the theme of "Peace in our Communities" to inspire healing, equity, and transformation. Ages 8 and up.
Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/56n84w75
How To Build Wealth During Tough Economic Times: A Virtual Workshop
January 16, 2023 @ 5:00 PM
Tashina Anderson is a successful entrepreneur and money coach. In this workshop, she shares the secrets to building wealth although money may be tight. She advises participants to avoid get rich quick schemes and to look at their everyday spending and financial habits. She shows that the path to wealth is linked to re-evaluating your financial priorities and taking control of your day-to-day spending. Once you learn the rules of the game, anybody can get rich through investing, trading and credit.
Register HERE:
Grocery Store Donation Drop Off
On Monday, January 16, 2023, you can drop off non-perishable food items, baby clothing, baby supplies, coats, underwear, socks, blankets and other necessities at the following convenient locations:
Giant (Freetown) 6480 Freetown Road, Columbia, MD 21044
Giant (Chatham) 9200 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Giant (Dorsey) 4715 Dorsey Hall Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Giant (Cradlerock) 7200 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD 21045
Giant (Center Park) 8805 Centre Park Drive, Columbia, MD 21045
Giant (Elkridge) 6020 Marshalee Drive, Elkridge, MD 21075
Giant (River Hill) 6050 Daybreak Circle, Clarksville, MD 21029
Roots Market 5805 Clarksville Square Drive, Clarksville, MD 21029
Safeway (Enchanted Forest) 10000 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042
Safeway (Long Gate) 4370 Montgomery Road, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Safeway (Harpers Choice) 5458A Harpers Farm Road, Columbia, MD 21044
Green Valley Market 7280 Montgomery Road, Elkridge, MD 21075
Donations support Grassroots Crisis Intervention, Columbia Action Council's Food Bank and Columbia Community Care
outreach activities.
Kurt W. Wall, Chair - Term Expires: 3/1/24
Yetta Roggerson, Vice-Chair - Term Expires: 3/1/24
Teresa Garcia, Secretary - Term Expires: 03/01/24
Hunter Craig - Term Expires: 3/1/25
Dr. Clarita Dawson - Term Expires: 3/1/25
Bert Hash, Jr. - Term Expires: 3/1/24
Tina Horn - Term Expires: 5/1/24
Sharay Jackson-Dixon - Term Expires: 10/31/25
Abbie Diane Martin, Ph.D. - Term Expires: 3/1/24
Kimberly McCauley - Term Expires: 3/1/24
Daniel Nairn - Term Expires: 04/4/25
Bonnie Sorak - Term Expires: 03/01/23
Brett Vess - Term Expires: 03/01/25
Tabitha Dixon, Student Commissioner - Term Expires 6/30/2024
Sierra Sewchand, Student Commissioner - Term Expires: 6/30/2023
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission meets on the first Wednesday of every month, except in July. Meetings are open to the public.
December 7th
November 2nd
October 12th
September 7th
August 3rd
June 1st
- Agenda
- Minutes (No Quorum, no meeting)
May 14th Annual Retreat
May 4th
April 6th
March 2nd
February 2nd
January 12th
January 5th