IN UNISON Chorus. Photo by Dilip Vishwanat
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's IN UNISON Chorus will perform as part of the SLSO's free Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. event.
Every year, on the third Monday in January, we acknowledge Martin Luther King Jr. and his lifelong work of campaigning for equal rights in the United States. This year, celebrate his legacy with educational events from several organizations.
2023 MLK Jr. Celebration Speaker
This year, Maryville University's Office of Diversity and Inclusion is bringing Brittany Packnett Cunningham, vice president of social impact at BET, NBC News political analyst, and host of UNDISTRACTED, an intersectional news and justice podcast, to the university for their annual celebration. The free event will take place on January 24 from 4–5:30 p.m.
2023 Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Observance in Fountain Park
On Saturday, January 14, the Fountain Park-Lewis Place Committee will host its sixth-annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance. The event begins at the Martin Luther King statue in Fountain Park, with a commencement at 9 a.m. and a peace march following at 9:30 a.m.
Artistic Expression Uplifting the Movement
The Saint Louis Art Museum’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration returns in-person this year. The event will feature local Black artists and their work, inspired by Moneta Sleet Jr., the Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer who depicted King and the Civil Rights Movement. The event will also feature a talk by Tabari Coleman, a community engagement moderator focused on creating space for constructive dialogue in St. Louis. The free event takes place January 13 from 6–7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are recommended.
Give us the ballot!! How do we leverage the power of our collective voices to impact change
The University of Missouri-St. Louis will host its annual observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 16 at 11 a.m. The ceremony and program features Cliff Albright, the executive director and co-founder of Black Voters Matter, and a musical performance from The Sheldon’s All-Star Chorus.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Bookend Event: Jessica Nordell
Jessica Nordell will read from her book, The End of Bias: A Beginning: The Science and Practice of Overcoming Unconscious Bias, as part of the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival’s observance of MLK Jr. Day. Her book looks into how to eradicate unintentional bias and discrimination, which has turned into one of the largest issues of this age. The event will take place on Tuesday, January 17 from 7–8 p.m. It is free, but tickets are required.
Throughout the holiday weekend, the Missouri History Museum will have a variety of events for families to participate in, such as a youth activism workshop, gospel yoga, and a keynote lecture from Lynne M. Jackson, the president and founder of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation, as well as the great-great-granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott. The events take place on January 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., January 15 from 2–5 p.m., and January 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The events are free and take place in-person.
Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and IN UNISON Chorus are coming together for a special tribute honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Director Kevin McBeth will join Music Director Stéphane Denève to lead the powerful event. The hour-long concert starts at 7:30 p.m. on January 16. The concert is free, but ticket reservations are required.
