ABOUT
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.
2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration & Day of Service
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, the Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity, and the 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 Sunday, January, 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM.
The celebration will include a keynote address from Howard Community College graduate, Israah Ansari; remarks and presentations from public officials; performances by diverse community groups; and recognition of the 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Living the Dream” award recipients and student essay, oratory, and poster contest winners.
The “Living the Dream” Award honors individuals and organizations who exemplify the work and legacy of Dr. King. This year’s honorees will be recognized 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, "Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in.”
The reception commences at 2:00 PM, followed by the 3:00 PM celebration.
Parking Instructions:
Please park in the West Parking Garage on the campus of Howard Community College. Click here for directions on how to get to the West Parking Garage on campus.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
On Monday, January 15, 2024, join us at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The Day of Service provides a variety of service opportunities and ways to honor Dr. King's legacy through mixed-media art, education, and fellowship. Our interactive Day of Service that includes an MLK tribute room, a Read-In with community members reading books about Dr. King and service activities for all ages!
For More Information: (410) 313-6430 or email: [email protected]
2024 MLK Day of Service Activities
Day of Service Activities at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center
Join us at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center, on January 15, 2027 for our annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.
Where: Harriet Tubman Cultural Center
8045 Harriet Tubman Lane
Columbia, MD 21044
Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
In the tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday being, “A Day On, not a Day Off,” Howard County is offering numerous activities that offers the community the opportunity to honor the civil rights leader’s legacy through service, education, artistic expression, and community-engagement.
MLK Immersion Experience: An interactive, creative educational experience that brings Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy to life through artistic creation, videos, sound, music and storytelling. Elements include the following:
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Health Clinic: In partnership with the Howard County Health Department, residents will receive free Covid Rapid Test Kites, KN95 Face Masks and Flu vaccinations.
- 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM - Voter Registration Drive: Volunteers will be on hand to help people to register to vote. Bring proof of residency. Click HERE to see what qualifies as proof. Want to become a volunteer to help register people to vote? Watch THIS recording of our training webinar. Offered in partnership with the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Howard County.
- 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM: Your Neighbor's Keepers: Bring donations of non-perishable food items, canned goods, dry goods, sanitary napkins, baby goods, school supplies, coats, etc. Collected items will donated to Columbia Community Care, Hopeworks and Grassroots.
- 10 AM to 2:00 PM - MLK Reflection Room: A video installation featuring Dr. King’s speeches, music and memories including Life’s Blueprint Speech, the March on Washington, the Three Evils: War, Racism and Poverty speech and performances by the SNCC Freedom Singers.
- 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM - Book Display: Howard County Library System will provide books about Dr. King including: My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by MLK III, When Martin Luther King Jr. Wore Roller Skates by Mark Andrew Weakland, Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport, A Place to Land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech That Inspired a Nation by Barry Wittenstein, Feliz Cumpleanos, Martin Luther King by Jean Marzollo and others.
- 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM - Children's Read-In: Community partners will read short stories about MLK and the Civil Rights Movement at selected intervals throughout the day. Howard County Library System will provide a mobile library for attendees to check out books.
- 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM - Caring Craft Corner with Columbia Community Care: Children can create crafts that inspire humanity, civility and peace to share with those in need including affirmation bracelets, greeting cards and story quilt.
- 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM – Kits to Heart: Kits to Heart provides thoughtfully designed cancer kits for patients and caregivers. This service activity will provide children, youth, adults, and families an opportunity to create two craft activities – Care Bear Towels and Decorative Handwritten Letters. These items will be included in cancer care kits and distributed to patients in Howard County and are eligible for community service hours.
- 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM & 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Sensory Fidget Toy Activity: MLK Holiday Commissioner Hunter Craig will facilitate a Fidget Toy Activity for children with sensory processing experiences and all children between the ages of 6-12.
In addition to these activities, we are also collecting non-perishable food items, baby items, new coats and school supplies, sanitary napkins and hygiene products to support clients of Columbia Community Care, Grassroots and the Howard County Food Bank.
MLK Day of Service Food Collection
MLK Day of Service Food Collection
Location: Area Grocery Stores
Monday, January 15, 2024
8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission is collecting pantry staples, nonperishable food items, sanitary items, and baby products for the Howard County Food Bank. Drop off your donations at one of the following locations:
Monthly Pop-Up Food Pantry
Monthly Pop-up Food Pantry
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.
Commission Information
Commissioners
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
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: 03/01/25
Brett Vess - Term Expires: 03/01/25
Ishaan Busireddy, Student Commissioner - Term Expires: 6/30/2024
Tabitha Dixon, Student Commissioner - Term Expires 6/30/2024
Meeting Schedule
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission meets on the first Wednesday of every month, at 6:00 PM, except in July. Meetings are open to the public.
January 03, 2024
February 07, 2024
March 06, 2024
April 03, 2024
May 01, 2024
June 05, 2024
July 03, 2024
September 04, 2024
October 02, 2024
November 06, 2024
December 04, 2024
Meeting Agendas & Minutes
2023
2022
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