42nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration
Special events hosted by Asheville-Buncombe MLK Association take place January 14-16, 2023.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County has announced its schedule of events for its 42nd annual commemoration of Dr. King.
Prayer Breakfast
As always, the main event of the weekend of celebration of King’s life and work will be the annual Prayer Breakfast, held on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Asheville. The breakfast brings together approximately 1,100 citizens and community leaders each January. Originally held at the Montford Community Center in 1982, the breakfast has grown from a small gathering of under 100 people to its current size and scope.
The speakers for the Prayer Breakfast will be Fletcher, NC Mayor Preston Blakely and author Andrew Aydin.
Keynote Speakers
After graduating from Asheville High School, Preston Blakely received a BA in political science and African American/African diaspora studies from University of North Carolina Greensboro, followed by a master of public affairs degree from Western Carolina University. Two years after being sworn in as a member of the Fletcher City Council in 2019, he ran for and won the mayoralty at the age of 27. Mayor Blakely is the youngest individual to ever hold that elected position. Blakely is a manager with Quality Janitorial Group, a family-owned business.
Andrew Aydin is a best-selling author who has received multiple awards as the creator and co-author of the graphic memoir series, March and Run, which chronicle the life of civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis. Aydin served on the staff of the late Rep. Lewis starting in 2007. A native of Atlanta, Mr. Aydin went on to earn a BA from Trinity College and a master of public policy degree from Georgetown University. Mr. Aydin frequently lectures at schools and universities, as well as participating in reading programs with incarcerated youth.
The Prayer Breakfast begins on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 8 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza Resort, 1 Resort Drive in Asheville. Purchase tickets at mlkasheville.org/product/mlk-breakfast. There may be a limited amount of tickets available at the door.
Other Events
The Candlelight Service is scheduled for Sunday, January 15, 2023. The annual Peace March & Rally is scheduled for Monday, January 16, 2023. Additional details can be found at mlkasheville.org.
For more information, please visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County at mlkasheville.org.
