Event Information and Updates
Seattle Colleges Presents
53nd Annual Community Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Friday, January 16, 2026
Brockey Center, South Seattle College
Gather with us in celebrating the enduring legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and kicking off Seattle Colleges Social Justice Week.
2026 Event Schedule
| Time | Speaker or Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9 a.m. | Hot Breakfast and Networking | Brockey Center |
| 10 a.m. | Annual MLK Celebration Program Begins | Brockey Center |
| 12:30 p.m. | Program Concludes | Brockey Center |
| 1 p.m. | Community Conversation hosted by D'Andre Fisher | Brockey Center |
| 2 p.m. | Community Conversation Concludes and Celebration Event Adjourns | Brockey Center |
Program Highlights
Emcee: KIRO-7 Evening Anchor, Monique Ming Laven
Monique Ming Laven co-anchors KIRO 7 Eyewitness News at 5 and 11 p.m. Monday through Friday. Monique joined KIRO 7 Eyewitness News in June of 2006. She splits her time between anchoring and reporting during the week. As an anchor, she has been on the desk for some of Western Washington’s biggest news stories coverage, for which KIRO 7 has received an Emmy Award and a National Headliner Award for Best Newscast.
Prayer and Blessing:
Keynote:
Three young local scholars affiliated with Speak with Purpose will share their original speeches that explore topics including culture, identity, social justice, and their vision for a better world.
Camden Clayton, Mercer Middle School 7th Grader
Camden Clayton is a two-time finalist in the Rising Voices Oratory Showcase, earning both first and third place. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, he loves soccer, family and reading. Camden aspires to become a professional soccer player and an astronomer, and he uses his voice to advocate for justice and equity.
Shea Lawson, Washington Middle School 7th grader
Shea Lawson is a proud recent graduate of Thurgood Marshall Elementary and has begun an exciting new chapter as a 7th grader. She loves spending time with her family, listening to music, watching soccer, and enjoying theater performances. Passionate about learning and inspiring others, Shea aspires to become a preschool teacher and shape young minds with care and creativity.
Sam Pederson-Spaulding, Franklin High School 10th Grader
Sam Pederson-Spaulding is a 16-year-old student with a deep passion for art and acting. With several years of public speaking experience, Sam has discovered a love for connecting with audiences and using his voice to inspire and engage.
Music and Song: DaNell Daymon and Greater Works
DaNell Daymon and Greater Works is a contemporary gospel choir whose members come from Seattle and other cities across the U.S. The group's chief vocal director, DaNell Daymon, is a multi-talented Gospel Music artist who resides in the Pacific Northwest. The group appeared on Season 12 of NBC TV's America's Got Talent in the spring and summer of 2017, advancing as far as the semifinals.
Breakfast Menu
Hot breakfast will be served from 9 to 10 a.m. and will include assorted pastries, bacon and sausage, breakfast potatoes, pancakes, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, assorted juices, and water.
Location: Brockey Center, South Seattle College
The event will be held at Brockey Center on the main campus of South Seattle College. Listed below are directions, parking, and other transportation information. New this year: shuttle service from North and Central.
Attendees should park in the South Lot, south of Brockey Center and Olympic Hall. Parking will be free for the day.
This year shuttle service for students and employees at Seattle Central College and North Seattle College will allow them to more easily join the celebration at South.
Departure locations at North and Central and corresponding departure and return times are being finalized. Look for full details in early January.
Attention, Students: Complete and Sign the Release of Liability Form
All students who plan to use this complimentary shuttle service to and from the MLK Celebration should print and complete the release of liability form. Bring the completed and signed form with you and present it as you board the bus.
Public Transportation Bus Routes
Bus routes 128 and 125 stop in front of the Robert Smith Building (RSB). Refer to the campus map. Call METRO (206.553.3000) or check the METRO Trip Planner for bus route schedules and times.
MLK Social Justice Week, Jan. 16-23, 2026
The celebration will kick off Seattle Colleges' MLK Jr. Social Justice Week honoring Dr. King's vision for racial and social justice in action. It’s a week of learning, growing, and uplifting our unwavering commitment to social justice within our Seattle Colleges community.
Message Archive
Seattle Colleges Colleagues,
We invite you to save the date for our 53rd Annual Community Celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Our celebration will take place on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, at South Seattle College’s Brockey Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. following this schedule:
- 9 to 10 a.m. - Breakfast
- 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Program
- 1 to 2 p.m. - Community Conversation
Additional program details will be provided soon. This event will kick off Seattle Colleges Third Annual Social Justice Week (January 16-23), a series of events and activities uplifting the community and highlighting Dr. King’s legacy.
Mark your calendar and plan to join us for a day of celebration.
MLK Planning Committee