MLK2025 Press Announcement

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2024-12-13T14:12:41

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2024
Contact: press@norcalmlkfoundation.org
(415)857-0595

** PRESS RELEASE **

THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES ITS MLK2025 EVENTS “TOWARD A MORE JUST UNION”
JANUARY 13-20

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#sfmlkday


The NorcalMLK Foundation announces the events for the 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration.

The Northern California Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Foundation has announced the events for the 2025 Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

“We are excited about our celebration events for MLK2025. Our full slate of events begins and ends with virtual programs on Monday, January 13, and Monday, January 20,” stated NorcalMLK Foundation executive director, Aaron Grizzell.

See the live events summaries, and continue to link to the MLK2025 Schedule of Events at sfmlk.events for the latest scheduling notes.



2025 MLK NOONTIME CONCERT
January 14, 12:30pm
Old Saint Mary's Cathedral
660 California Street, San Francisco

The NorcalMLK Foundation is partnered with Noontime Concerts (NTC), aligning our shared values of social justice and the transformative power of the arts.

The concert launches the MLK Celebration Week, with a compelling set of performances dedicated to honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Famed pianist Carl Blake is the program director.

This event is free and open to the public.


2025 KING & FAITH SERIES
January 15-20
Various Locations

2025 represents our tenth annual King & Faith series that presents contemporary contemplation of Dr. King, his message, and his legacy. The public programs are scheduled to begin on January 15 and are free and open to the public. Programs include:


BLACK & BROWN COMIX ARTS FESTIVAL
January 18–20

The 2025 Black & Brown Comix Arts Festival (BCAF2025) marks the eleventh year of the nationally awarded comic book event highlighting artists and creators of color.This year we are inaugurating the BCAF Cosplay Soirée, our new cosplay celebration on Saturday, January 18.


MLK2025 LABOR & COMMUNITY BREAKFAST
January 20, 8:00am
The InterContinental San Francisco Grand Ballroom
888 Howard Street, San Francisco

The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Labor & Community Breakfast brings labor, government, and the community together to honor the legacy of the civil rights connection between labor, led by A. Philip Randolph, the African American community, and the poor.

The event features federal, state, and local leaders in government, musical talent of the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble, and the presentation of the NorcalMLK Foundation's signal award, The Willie B Kennedy Civic Service Award to The Hon. Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown, senior minister of the historic Third Baptist Church in San Francisco and past member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

As the first event on MLK Day, the Labor & Community Breakfast launches a host of activities honoring King that occur at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Gardens.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Labor & Community Breakfast is a partnership between the NorcalMLK Foundation and the San Francisco Labor Council.


MLK2025 MARCH
SF Caltrain Station
January 20, 11:00am
4th Street@Townsend Street

Join thousands in honoring the Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery, Alabama marches and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by experiencing the MLK2025 commemorative march/parade from San Francisco's Caltrain Station to Yerba Buena Gardens. The march begins at 11:00am on Monday, January 20, and participants are encouraged to arrive early. The 1.5 mile journey crosses the Lefty O'Doul Bridge and stops at Willie Mays Plaza at AT&T Park to commemorate the crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, a symbol of violence and victory in the civil rights movement.

Groups can register and march together at the MLK2025 March Eventbrite page.

At the conclusion of the march, in partnership with the San Francisco Interfaith Council, an interfaith commemoration will bring together the region’s faith leaders to commemorate the vision of Dr. King and to lead participants in a spiritual reflection of his message.


MLK2025 CELEBRATION PROGRAM
January 20, 1:00pm
Blue Shield of California Theater @ YBCA
700 Howard Street

The MLK2025 Celebration Program will feature special performances and programs. The MLK2025 program will see an historic conversation with the The Hon. Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown, The NorcalMLK Foundation's 2025 Willie B Kennedy Civic Service Awardee.

We will also see our historic conversation with women leaders in culture, community, politics, and technology discussing the future and the work that continues into 2025.


MLK2025 MUSIC FESTIVAL
January 15, 1:00pm
The Stage on the Main Lawn
Yerba Buena Gardens

Enjoy the 15th Annual MLK Music Festival presented by Purple Cherry Productions and Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.

The MLK2025 Music Festival features award winning artists and hosts of the local hit show "I Remember That Song!" will bring Yerba Buena Gardens to life, while emceeing the performances.


MLK2025 HEALTH & WELLNESS FESTIVAL
JANUARY 20, 11:00am
Yerba Buena Gardens

The MLK2025 Health and Wellness Festival gathers the region’s health providers for a one-day event of free services and exciting activities during the MLK celebration.


MLK2025 LIBERATION FILM FESTIVAL
January 20, 12:00pm
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
701 Mission Street, San Francisco

The Liberation Film Festival (LFF) are dedicated to bringing short-format cinema and human-interest documentaries to the public through innovative programs designed to engage new and diverse audiences. 20245 marks the fifteenth annual program and will feature human interest and civil rights documentaries and, for the first time, animated shows. A partnership with California Newsreel, the screenings are free and open to the public with limited theater seating on a first-come, first-served, basis.

LFF scheduled screenings will be presented in the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Screening Room.


MLK2025 COMMEMORATIVE TRANSIT
January 20

NorcalMLK partners with local and regional transit agencies to provide commemorative travel to and from our events on the MLK federal holiday. The NorcalMLK Transit Program returns with the MLK2025 NorcalMLK Caltrain Celebration Train. Reservations will be available soon at your tickets today at the MLK2025 Caltrain Celebration Train site.

Stay tuned for updates on more transit partnership.


MLK VOLUNTEERING

Sign up to serve through NorcalMLK.

NorcalMLK has volunteer opportunities throughout the year, and we're a great place for service. Let us know your areas of focus, availability and any other information you wish to provide, and we will keep you informed of the NorcalMLK volunteer opportunities that fit your criteria.