Commemorating Dr. King’s Dream and Legacy

The MLK Association of Asheville and Buncombe County celebrates 41 years of commemorating Dr. King’s dream and legacy with the theme “Give Us the Ballot Box, the Urgency of Now!”

The 2022 programs will be released on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association’s YouTube Channel and will showcase historical events such as the Candlelight Service, Peace March & Rally, and the well-known Prayer Breakfast. Events are scheduled to be posted by 9 a.m. each day, beginning Saturday, January 15, 2022.

MLK Association President Dr. Oralene Simmons shared the following statement about this year’s annual event: “This year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have had to pivot from our usual face-to-face celebrations in which we have come together as the ‘Beloved Community.’ We are together again virtually this year; however, it does not make our work, community, and fellowship any less important.”

Saturday, January 15

Prayer Breakfast, “Give Us The Ballot Box, The Urgency of Now!”

• Keynote Speaker: Ms. Marcia Johnson-Blanco, co-director of the Lawyers’ Committee’s Voting Rights Project.

Sunday, January 16

“Service to the Beloved Community”

• Welcome: Dr. Oralene Anderson Graves Simmons, President, Martin Luther King, Jr. Association
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Areas of Focus: Dr. Joseph Fox, Vice-President, Martin Luther King, Jr. Association
• Introduction to the Service Project and Beloved Asheville video

This event is co-sponsored by Beloved Asheville to assist the homeless population with winter survival kits.

Monday, January 17

Peace March and Rally, “State of Affairs”

• Opening Welcome: Dr. Oralene Anderson Graves Simmons
• Greetings: Dr. Joseph Fox, Chair, Peace March and Rally
• Greetings from the City of Asheville and Buncombe County
• Understanding the Protest: Jonathan McCoy, Board Member, Martin Luther King, Jr. Association, and the Director of the Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Mars Hill University
• Protest Art Video in partnership with the Asheville Area Arts Council
• March from St. James AME Church to Pack Square Park & St. James’ Fish Fry (Tentatively scheduled based on COVID-19 guidelines)

Monday, January 17

Candlelight Service, “Honoring Community Leaders”

• Keynote Speaker, Rev. Brenda Gilbert, Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of WNC

Each year the MLK Association of Asheville & Buncombe County recognizes community members who show outstanding qualities of leadership, compassion, and community-building.

The 2022 MLK Community Service Award Winners

• Mr. Billy Gardenhight, golfing/athletics-civic leader, (awarded posthumously)
• Mrs. Julia Ray, longtime community leader who recently celebrated her 107th birthday
• Dr. Joseph L. Fox, Regional Community Leader, member of the MLK Board
• Mayor Esther Manheimer, City of Asheville, leader for many civil rights initiatives
• Mr. Bruce Waller, longtime community-business leader, director of Black Wall Street AVL
• Ms. Brenda G. Mills, Director of Equity & Inclusion, City of Asheville
• Mr. Drew Reisinger, Buncombe County Registrar of Deeds
• Ms. Copland Arnold Rudolph, Exec. Dir., Asheville City Schools Foundation
• Rev. Dr. Kirk Brown, community leader-teacher, recently retired chaplain at Christ School

Tuesday, January 18

Community Action Videos

Wednesday, January 19

Closing Celebration, “Call to Action”

• Opening Welcome and Call to Action, Dr. Oralene Anderson Graves Simmons
• Partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative, Dr. Joseph Fox
• Closing Ceremony

Visit MLKAsheville.org for details.