Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration

Image of MLK Jr with his hand up in front of a crowd on the National Mall

The city of Aurora's 35th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Hr. Commemoration in January 2021 is themed "Rise Up: Achieve the Dream." Events, unless noted, will be held virtually and are open to all community members. Information on how to join the virtual events is posted with the event information below.

Questions? Call 303.739.7281 or email communityrel@auroragov.org

JAN. 10-18

Honoring the Spirit of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Empowerment Initiative
Organized by city of Aurora Community Relations Division, East End Visions and Compound of Compassion
• Providing in-person support to youth, families, and community members experiencing homelessness

SUNDAY, JAN. 10

Interfaith Service | 4 p.m.
Hosted by Aurora Community of Faith • Aurora Community of Faith Facebook page

MONDAY, JAN. 11

Opening Ceremony | 10:30 a.m.
Hosted by city of Aurora Community Relations Division • City of Aurora Facebook page
• Featuring musical and spoken word performance, and welcome messages

Press Conference by Dr. MLK Jr. Colorado Holiday Commission | 11:45 a.m.
MLK Jr. Library

Prayer Vigil | 6 p.m.
Hosted by Aurora Community of Faith • Aurora Community of Faith Facebook page

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Proclamation Reading | 6:30 p.m.
AuroraTV.org (part of Aurora City Council meeting)

TUESDAY, JAN. 12

Achieving the Dream: Did We Miss the Mark? Lunch & Learn | noon
Hosted by city of Aurora Community Relations Division, East End Visions, and Compound of Compassion • Available on Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/97847583040 or 669.900.9128 - passcode 960511)
Moderated by Elijah Huff and featuring panelists:
• Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman
• State Rep. James Coleman
• Cherry Creek Schools Board of Education Director Janice McDonald
• Aurora Gateway High School Assistant Principal Polica Houston
• Dr. Ryan Ross, CEO, Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado
• Student Chelsea Situmeang (YAASPA)
Announcement of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Art Competition Winners

All Things Dr. King Table Talk | 6 p.m.
Hosted by Aurora Community of Faith • Aurora Community of Faith Facebook page

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 13

The Letter from Birmingham Jail: A Closer Look, with Dr. Nita Mosby-Tyler | 11 a.m.
Lunch & Learn, hosted by city of Aurora Community Relations Division • Available on Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/95987038989 or 253.215.8782 - passcode 187190)

Aurora Community of Faith National Call to Prayer | 6 p.m.
Aurora Community of Faith Facebook page
Hosted by Bishop Acen Phillips

THURSDAY, JAN. 14

At the Table with Dr. King | 6 p.m.
Hosted by Mizel Museum and Aurora Community of Faith • Register at TinyURL.com/MLKAurora2021

FRIDAY, JAN. 15

Prayer Breakfast | 9 a.m.
Hosted by Aurora Community of Faith • Aurora Community of Faith Facebook page
• Featuring speaker Theresa Johnston, who with her brother was the first Black students to enter a white school in Kentucky in 1956. She marched with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Washington, DC, in 1957.

Compound of Compassion Gives Day Event | Noon-3:30 p.m.
Fletcher Plaza, 9898 E. Colfax Ave.
Sponsored by Human Relations Commission
• A collaboration to bring needed to supplies to Aurora's homeless community. To donate or volunteer, please email event organizers

Rise Up – Achieve the Dream: A Night to Commemorate Rev. Dr. MLK Jr. | 6 p.m.
Hosted by city of Aurora Community Relations Division • City of Aurora Facebook page
• Featuring BET’s "Sunday Best" Winner Stephanie Summers
• Community Award Ceremony - Spirit of MLK Award from Aurora's Human Relations Commission, and Community Partner of the Year Award from Aurora's Community Relations Division

SATURDAY, JAN. 16

MLK Youth Summit | 10 a.m. to noon
Hosted by Young Aspiring Americans for Social & Political Activism and the Aurora Branch of the NAACP • RSVP at https://forms.gle/trCk9mmcvzg5CkqL7 • For more information, email crystal.gillis@yaaspa.net

NAACP & Civil Rights Table Talk with Omar Montgomery | 5 p.m.
Hosted by Aurora Community of Faith • Aurora Community of Faith Facebook page

The CELL 365: Propaganda & Extremism Today | 6 p.m.
Hosted by Aurora Community of Faith • Contact Dr. Greg McDonald at pgreg22@yahoo.com for information on how to attend
• Featuring speakers Jesse Morton (former al-Qaeda propagandist), Christian Picciolini (former white supremacist) and Rudi Florian (Holocaust educator), this program will examine the effects of propaganda on society, how violent extremists use propaganda to recruit and radicalize, and ways to identify and resist extremist propaganda

SUNDAY, JAN. 17

The Journey to the Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday | 6 p.m.
Hosted by Aurora Community of Faith • Aurora Community of Faith Facebook page

MONDAY, JAN. 18

Wreath Laying Ceremony commemorating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day | 8 a.m.
Hosted by city of Aurora Community Relations Division • City of Aurora Facebook page

Free dinners | 2-4 p.m.
Fletcher Plaza, 9898 E. Colfax Ave.
Provided by Brother Jeff's Cultural Center and sponsored by the Aurora Police Department Community Relations Division • Sign up for a meal or to volunteer at https://forms.gle/TuEnQ7uM6FK5sWtr7