Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

For many years, Western Michigan University’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee organized a celebration of Dr. King’s life, work and commitment to social justice. The Northside Ministerial Alliance had annually held a similar community wide event at Chenery Auditorium.

In an impressive showing of town-gown partnership, the two organizations agreed to merge their events for a spectacular 2002 celebration. Since that time, the two have continued to work collaboratively to establish a celebration for Kalamazoo residents that highlights and captures the essence of the life and legacy of Dr. King.

During the ensuing years, several major events and numerous smaller ones have been built into what has become an annual celebration that launches in January each year. The community wide Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration continues to grow and evolve. Along with Northside Ministerial Alliance, WMU and the City of Kalamazoo, key sponsors also include Gryphon Place, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo Public Schools, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Ascension Borgess Hospital and Bronson Healthcare System.