La Crosse, Wisconsin · The Midwest's Premier MLK Community Celebration · Since 2009
MLK Community Celebration
Honoring the legacy. Uplifting local leaders.
Continuing the work together, every January.
The celebration is free and open to the public thanks to the generosity of donors, sponsors, and community partners.
Monday, January 18, 2027
· 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM ·
· Fine Arts Center, Viterbo University ·
Free & Open to the Public
2027 Celebration Schedule
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Community tabling and engagement
Light refreshments provided
6:30 PM
Doors open to the Main Theater in the Fine Arts Center
Music by The Mayfield Experience begins
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
MLK Community Celebration program
Help Keep This Celebration Free
The MLK Community Celebration has remained free and open to the public because we believe Dr. King’s legacy belongs to everyone.
Every donation helps us recognize local leaders, celebrate youth, welcome community members, and continue this tradition for future generations.
Leave existing donation levels below this introduction.
$25
Covers printed programs for 25 community members
$50
Covers printed programs for 50 community members
$100
Covers youth award recognition materials
$250
Covers event signage
$500
Covers livestream production
About the Celebration
The MLK Community Celebration is rooted in Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community a community shaped by justice, dignity, compassion, courage, and collective responsibility.
Through awards, storytelling, reflection, and community connection, the celebration reminds us that Dr. King’s legacy is not only something we remember. It is something we continue.
Each year, the celebration uplifts local leaders who are helping move our community toward belonging, justice, service, and love in action.
Our Community Impact
Celebrating Our Community Since 2009
Hundreds of Community Leaders Recognized
Thousands of Community Members Engaged
Youth Leadership Honored Every Year
Strong Partnerships Across the Coulee Region
Muhibb Dyer
The 2027 MLK Community Celebration will feature keynote speaker Muhibb Dyer, a motivational educator, speaker, and youth advocate whose work centers on resilience, purpose, healing, and helping young people move through pain toward possibility.
His message aligns deeply with the spirit of the MLK Community Celebration: courage, service, justice, love in action, and the ongoing work of building the Beloved Community.
Nominate a Leader
Each year, community members are invited to nominate local leaders whose service reflects the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
We honor leaders across generations who demonstrate courage, compassion, service, justice, and meaningful community impact.
Nominations for the 2027 celebration are open through November 1, 2026.
Award Categories
The Lynda Blackmon Lowery Youth Leadership Award
Recognizing a young person who demonstrates courage, compassion, leadership, and service in their school or community.
The William “Bill” Coleman College Leadership Award
Recognizing a college student advancing justice, belonging, service, and leadership through campus or community involvement.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award
Recognizing an adult leader whose work reflects service, equity, courage, and lasting community impact.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Sponsor the Celebration
The MLK Community Celebration is free and open to the public thanks to generous donors, sponsors, and community partners.
Your support helps cover event costs, honoree recognition, youth leadership visibility, community outreach, hospitality, accessibility, and the continued work of honoring Dr. King’s legacy locally.
Sponsorship is an opportunity to stand with the values of service, justice, courage, love, and community impact.
Sponsorship may support:
Honoree awards and recognition
Youth leadership visibility
Event materials and hospitality
Community outreach
Accessibility and public participation
Ongoing celebration communications and storytelling
Stay Connected to the Celebration
The MLK Community Celebration is more than one day each year.
Stay connected for occasional updates about the annual celebration, nomination opportunities, honoree announcements, sponsorship, community tables, and ways to continue the work of building the Beloved Community.
2026 MLK Community Celebration Honorees
We are honored to recognize the 2026 MLK Community Celebration honorees for their courage, service, leadership, and community impact.
Lynda Blackmon Lowery Youth Leadership Award
Amaya Emler
Central High School
The Lynda Blackmon Lowery Youth Leadership Award
Presented by: Quartell Roberson
William “Bill” Coleman College-Age Leadership Award
Courtney Chambers
Western Technical College
The William “Bill” Coleman College Leadership Award
Presented by: The William “Bill” Coleman Family
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award
Vincent Hamilton
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 2026 Leadership Award
Presented by: Henry Greengrass
These honorees remind us that Dr. King’s legacy continues through everyday acts of courage, service, advocacy, and love in action.
2026 Youth Nominees
We also celebrate the youth nominees recognized as part of the 2026 MLK Community Celebration.
These young leaders represent courage, promise, creativity, and hope for the future of our community.
AVA BOWMAN
CHLOE DRURY
WILLIAM FLOTTMEYER
ABIGAIL HOLTHE
DE’AHJANAYA MALONE
EMYA MARTIN
BROCK NEEDHAM
EMMA RAYMUS
RUBEN SMITH
MALIK THOMPSON
DULCE TINOCO VAZQUEZ
NOU QU YANG
Past MLK Leadership Award Honorees
We are proud to recognize the individuals who have received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award since the celebration began in 2009. Each honoree reflects the enduring call to serve, lead, and build the Beloved Community.
Roberta Stevens — 2009
Thomas Harris — 2010
Andrea Hansen — 2011
Maureen Freedland — 2012
James Parker — 2013
William Coleman & Dempsey Miller III — 2014
Barbara Stewart — 2015
Nahoua “Tony” Yang — 2016
John Medinger — 2017
Nathaniel “Nate” Coleman, Jr. — 2018
Shaundel Spivey — 2019
Tracy Littlejohn — 2020
Amanda Goodenough — 2021
Antoiwana Williams — 2022
Bridget Todd-Robbins — 2023
Will Van Roosenbeek — 2024
Henry Greengrass— 2025
Vincent Hamilton — 2026
Looking Ahead to 2028
Planning for the 2028 MLK Community Celebration will continue after the 2027 event.
Details about the 2028 celebration, nominations, sponsorship opportunities, community tables, and ways to participate will be shared in the future.
Host a Community Table
Organizations, nonprofits, schools, faith communities, and community partners are invited to host resource tables during the celebration.
Resource tables provide an opportunity to:
✔ Share services, programs, and opportunities
✔ Connect with community members
✔ Highlight work rooted in service, justice, and community care
✔ Strengthen relationships across our community
Hosting a table is one way to help carry the work forward and connect people with resources that support dignity, hope, and action.
Planning Committee
The MLK Community Celebration is made possible through the leadership, care, and collaboration of community volunteers, partners, sponsors, and committee members.
We are grateful for the people and organizations who give their time, wisdom, and energy to help carry this celebration forward.
Current Committee:
Antoiwana Williams
Maureen Freedland
Richard Kyte
Willem Vanroosenbeek
John Horman
Quartell Roberson
Vanessa DaughterofLois
Jill Miller
Ashley Nowak
Anouk Goreta
Keith Knutson
Lauren Harris
Bridget Todd Robbins
Laura Abellera
Committee Chair:
Dr. Carolyn Colleen Bostrack, PhD, MBA
Thank You to Our Sponsors
These organizations invest in leadership, education, service, and a stronger community by helping make the MLK Community Celebration possible each year.
We are grateful for the sponsors and community partners who help make the MLK Community Celebration possible.
Your support helps create a meaningful, accessible, and welcoming celebration that honors leadership, uplifts youth, and strengthens the ongoing work of building the Beloved Community.
GREATER LA CROSSE AREA DIVERSITY COUNCIL (GLADC)
COULEECAP, INC.
CONGREGATION SONS OF ABRAHAM
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF ONALASKA
MARINE CREDIT UNION
GREAT RIVERS UNITED WAY
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
TRUST POINT
UWL FOUNDATION
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of La Crosse
Stay Connected
The MLK Community Celebration is more than one evening each year.
Stay connected for occasional updates about celebration details, nomination opportunities, honoree announcements, sponsorship, community tables, and ways to continue the work of building the Beloved Community.
Together, We Continue the Work
The MLK Community Celebration is more than one evening each January.
It is a reminder that every person has the opportunity to build a stronger community rooted in justice, dignity, compassion, courage, and service.
Whether you attend, volunteer, sponsor, nominate a leader, or simply choose to serve others in your daily life, you help carry Dr. King’s legacy forward.
We invite you to join us.
Contact Us
For questions about the celebration, nominations, sponsorship, or community tables, please reach out to the planning committee.