MLK2026 TV
January 12, 12:00pm

The NorcalMLK Foundation will launch the MLK2026 week with MLK2026 TV. Watch compelling films, historical documentaries, and NorcalMLK conversations.

2026 MLK NOONTIME CONCERT
January 13, 12:30pm
Old Saint Mary's Cathedral
660 California Street, San Francisco

The NorcalMLK Foundation and Noontime Concerts (NTC), launch the MLK Celebration Week with Beyond the Dream, a compelling set of performances dedicated to honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Famed pianist Carl Blake is the program director. Performances include soprano Shawnette Sulker, baritone Bradley Kynard, flutist William Underwood, cellist Nancy Bien, pianist Daniel Glover, and violinist Joseph Edelberg. The NorcalMLK Foundation's executive director, Dr. Aaron Grizzell, narrates the event.

This event is free and open to the public.

2026 KING & FAITH SERIES
January 18-19
Various Locations

2026 represents our eleventh annual King & Faith series that presents contemporary contemplation of Dr. King, his message, and his legacy. Special guests include the Rev. Dr. Angela D. Sims, Ph.D., president of the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, the alma mater of Dr. King and the first female president in the academy's 200+ year history, Dr. Sylvester A. Johnson, theologian and techologist. He serves as department chair and professor of Black Studies at Northwestern University, and he is co-founder and CEO of the Corporation for Public Interest Technology in Washington D.C. The public programs are scheduled to begin on January 16 and are free and open to the public. Programs include:

• Jan. 18 - THE 2026 HOWARD THURMAN HOMILY
• Jan. 18 - THE 2026 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. INTERFAITH EVENSONG
• Jan. 18 - THE 2026 KING AND FAITH FORUM
• Jan. 19 - THE 2026 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ADDRESS
• Jan. 19 - THE MLK2026 MARCH
• Jan. 20 - THE 2026 MLK INTERFAITH COMMEMORATION

MLK2026 & THE BAR ASSOCIATION OF SAN FRANCISCO PROGRAMS
January 16 & 19

MLK2026 sees a partnership with the Bar Association of San Francisco in presenting three exciting events and programs.

Human and Civil Rights Law in the Time of Technological and Juridical Uncertainty
January 16, 12:00pm
Bar Association of San Francisco
50 Fremont Street, Suite 1700, San Francisco

The NorcalMLK Foundation and the Bar Association of San Francisco have partnered together to present a special program on human and civil rights in the time of technological and juridical uncertainty. Two distinguished thinkers will present their perspectives on human and civil law in this time of technological and juridical uncertainty. Erwin Chemerinsky, the Dean and the Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, and Sylvester A. Johnson, Chair and Professor of Black Studies at Northwestern University and the co-founder and CEO of the Corporation for Public Interest Technology in Washington D.C., will engage in a robust discussion with Dr. Aaron Grizzell, NorcalMLK Foundation executive director.

Immigration Workshop
January 19, 1:00pm
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Screning Room
701 Mission Street, San Francisco

The NorcalMLK Foundation, in partnership with the Bar Association of San Francisco and its Justice & Diversity Center (JDC), invites the community to a special immigration workshop during the MLK2026 Celebration. This session will explore the legal rights and protections available to immigrants, drawing on the expertise of JDC’s Immigrant Legal Defense Program, which works to increase access to justice for low-income and unrepresented immigrants facing deportation and immigration court proceedings.

Diversity Workshop
January 19, 3:00pm
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Screning Room
701 Mission Street, San Francisco

How do we understand the role of diversity in today's environment? The NorcalMLK Foundation, together with the Bar Association of San Francisco and its Justice and Diversity Center, invites the public to a collaborative workshop on diversity and its legal dimensions in today’s evolving landscape.

2026 Martin Luther King, Jr. LABOR & COMMUNITY BREAKFAST
January 19, 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 and the 2026 Martin Luther King, Jr. Address from Rev. Dr. Angela D. Sims, president of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, New York, to alma mater of Dr. King.

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.

MLK2026 MARCH
SF Caltrain Station
January 19, 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 MLK2026 commemorative march/parade from San Francisco's Caltrain Station to Yerba Buena Gardens. The march begins at 11:00am on Monday, January 19, 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 MLK2026 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.

MLK2026 CELEBRATION PROGRAM - Music and the Movement
January 19, 1:00pm
Blue Shield of California Theater @ YBCA
700 Howard Street

The MLK2026 Celebration Program, entitled Music and the Movement celebrates the power of music in helping to shape and empower the Civil Rights Movement. We will celebrate 60 years of on-air broadcasting by KCSM Radio and discuss its history with its on-air personalities Jesse 'Chuy' Varela, Clifford Brown, Jr., and Miranda Wilson, along with the award-winning jazz singer Tiffany Austin and KCSM station manager Dr. Robert A. Franklin.

MLK2026 CELEBRATION PROGRAM - AI and Human Welfare
January 19, 2:30pm
Blue Shield of California Theater @ YBCA
700 Howard Street

In partnership with the Center for Social Impact, Development, and Global Engagement (the SIDGE Center), we will host our fourth annual SIDGE conversation, entitled AI and Human Welfare. The NorcalMLK Foundation's Dr. Aaron Grizzell, Ph.D., will be in conversation with technologist and theologian Dr. Sylvester A. Johnson, co-founder and CEO of the Corporation for Public Interest Technology in Washington D.C. and the Chair and Professor of Black Studies at Northwestern University.

MLK2026 MUSIC FESTIVAL
January 19, 1:00pm
The Stage on the Main Lawn
Yerba Buena Gardens

Enjoy the 16th Annual MLK Music Festival presented by Purple Cherry Productions and Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.

The MLK2026 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.

MLK2026 HEALTH & WELLNESS FESTIVAL
JANUARY 20, 11:00am
Yerba Buena Gardens

The MLK2026 Health and Wellness Festival will feature a focus on kidney health, with special giveaways to registered participants.

MLK2026 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 MLK2026 NorcalMLK Caltrain Celebration Train, SF MUNI and BART. Reservations will be available soon at your tickets today at the MLK2026 Caltrain Celebration Train site.

Stay tuned for updates on MUNI, BART free commemorative pass reservations.

MLK2026 SERVICE AND 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.

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