Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day by surrounding yourself with art, culture, and community. Enjoy an array of vibrant programs and activities for all ages. Bring the kids for art-making activities and food, visit our exhibitions, hear a marathon reading of King’s lesser-known speeches and sermons, and much more—free for everyone!

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. — Family Drop-in Art Activities

Dream Catchers: Use quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr. combined with your own to create dream catchers that imagine a better future.

Peace Garden: Inspired by the beautiful, two-toned grandiflora rose named in honor of Coretta Scott King, contribute to a community peace garden installation.

Marking the Movement: Make a unique bookmark of MLK’s words and image using collage techniques. Complete the workshop by joining our Readers to Leaders Circle where you can read to the group or enjoy hearing uplifting stories read aloud by others.

10:00 – 11:00 a.m. — King Study

Often overlooked throughout history, countless women have played pivotal roles in the Civil Rights Movement. This panel explores the roles of these women and the challenges they faced in the fight for racial equality. Panelists include Meta Golding, the actress who depicts Rosa Parks in the upcoming film Behind the Movement (February 2018); Jan Perry, former LA councilwoman and currently general manager of the Los Angeles Economic & Workforce Development Department; Brenda Stevenson, UCLA Vice Chair, Undergraduate Studies, Department of History; and writer/activist Rebecca Walker. Moderated by Jaia Thomas, attorney and member of the CAAM History Council.

1:00 – 3:00 p.m.  — Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Speeches

Listen to a marathon reading of Martin Luther King, Jr. speeches by Professor Jody Amour, USC School of Law; Justin Andrews, program manager for strategic initiatives at the Liberty Hill Foundation; Funmilola Fagbamila, professor of Africana Studies at CSULA; and Matthew J. Miller, Ph.D candidate and writer, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy.

3:00 – 4:30 p.m. — Reading: The Mountaintop

The celebration concludes with a reading from The Mountaintop, written by American playwright Katori Hall and read by actors Larry Powell and Dominique Morrisseau. This critically acclaimed play is a fictional depiction of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s last night on earth, set in room 306 of the Lorraine Motel on the eve of his assassination in 1968. Language may not be suitable for all audiences.