A three-day global gathering of panelists discussing peace-building, “countering threats to democracy,” inclusivity, housing and more begins Wednesday as part of a week of events honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The King Center’s Beloved Community Global Summit opens with a welcome reception titled “The Joy of Justice” at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, at The Carter Center. Dr. Bernice King and Atlanta-based consuls general will be attending.
A week of King Holiday activities is leading up to the annual commemorative service at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Jan. 19, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.
This year’s theme is “Mission Possible II: Building Community, Uniting a Nation the Nonviolent Way.” The King Center describes it as “a blueprint for action” intended to guide programming, outreach, and community-building efforts.
The global summit continues on Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, where Dr. Bernice King will lead a lineup of national voices addressing challenges across the U.S. today.
Summit speakers include National Center for Civil and Human Rights CEO Jill Savitt; Operation Hope Founder and CEO John Hope Bryant; Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander; Urban One media Founder and Chairwoman Kathy Hughes, and many others.
“Mission Possible II: A Future We Build Together” is the focus of the opening panel discussion.
Hughes will present a masterclass on power, purpose and building what lasts. A Habitat for Humanity-led panel will examine housing justice. And Bryant will discuss how hope itself can serve as a strategy for economic empowerment and community resilience.
The summit continues Friday from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., building on Thursday’s discussions. During a press conference previewing King Week events, Savitt said the timing of this year’s observance underscores its urgency.
“We are so proud to open our space to meet this moment with seriousness and hope,” Savitt said. “This year’s King holiday comes at a time when many people are divided and tired and uncertain about the future. Dr. and Mrs. King lived through moments like ours, and the King Center cautions us that silence and complacency come at a cost.”
For more information and event registration visit The King Center website.
