On January 19, 2026, the Missoula MLK Day Celebration will honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King by engaging our community in dialogue about race and justice through a virtual Intergenerational and community-led celebration; closed captioning will be available.
The event will open with a Land Acknowledgment and an Indigenous Welcome led by Martin Charlo, and a MLK Jr. Day History and Recognition led by Murray Pierce. Our Keynote Speaker will be Damien Chase-Begay.
This event will also feature the annual MLK Jr. Youth Art & Essay Contest winners, music from local artist Josh Farmer, Andre Floyd, and a Community Choir. Blake Shulte will be the Youth Keynote Speaker.
This year's celebration theme draws inspiration from Dr. King's timeless wisdom: “There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair.”
*This year the Missoula MLK Day’s sponsors are: EmpowerMT; Run Wild Missoula; UCC; YWCA Missoula; Blackfoot Communications; UCC Missoula; The Missoulian; First Presbyterian Church; Bill Schwanke; MCAT; Art & Image Design; Missoula Public Library and SpectrumUM; Clyde Coffee, and the Good Food Store.
*The Missoula MLK Planning Committee includes Chris Young-Greer, Murray Pierce, Rajiem Seabrook, Ja'Ton Simpson, Paul Reneau, Loni Neilson-Kattell, Heidi Wallace, Tobin Shearer, John Lund, Mike Bryan, Khadija Davis, Sylvie Tower, and Chloe Lyons.
