Local institutions and organizations will celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and commemorate his birthday (Jan. 15) with a variety of events on and around the official MLK Day holiday on Jan. 19.

Did we miss an event? Send us an email at hello@signalakron.org.

Niles Nuru, 17, left, and Tony Collins, 17, both students at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy
Niles Nuru, 17, left, and Tony Collins, 17, both students at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, work to sort canned goods for the food pantry at Sarah’s House in Akron. The boys were participating in the 2025 “Youth Day of Doing,” part of the Power | Love | Justice Weekend events organized to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Akron. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)

Power | Love | Justice Weekend in Akron

This three-day event will include:

Crucial Conversations (early RSVP strongly suggested)

Jan. 16 (continuing through Feb. 28) | 5:30 p.m.
This initiative brings together individuals and organizations who want to facilitate or get help facilitating discussions to address the current state of Akron and redefine public safety, mental health and economic stability to ensure their effects on well-being are addressed. Crucial Conversations embraces the idea that small conversations can generate big ideas and that those ideas ultimately help shape the future of a region. Sign up here.

MLK Female Youth Symposium: Comfortable in Your Skin

Jan. 17 | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (doors open at 10 a.m.)
John R. Buchtel Community Learning Center (1040 Copley Road)
The Female Youth Symposium is designed to uplift and equip women ages 13-24 through meaningful dialogue, hands-on learning and affirming experiences that support confidence, wellness and life-readiness. Free breakfast is included, along with line dancing, a community art project and interactive breakout sessions covering topics such as college and career pathways, healthy dating and relationships, hygiene and skin care, mental health and overall well-being. Free — advance registration is encouraged. 

Rising to Meet the Moment Gospel Concert

Jan. 17 | 4 p.m. — doors open at 3 p.m.
The Faith Place (790 Easter Ave.)
A gospel concert featuring the Chicago Mass Choir, which is described as “a praise party” that is “guaranteed to have a hand-clapping, foot-stomping time in the Lord!” Tickets are $20 for ages 24 and under, general admission is $30.

Malachi Nurse washes some of the windows inside the Lawton Street Community Center during the Youth Day of Action, part of the local Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance, where young volunteers helped clean up at sites across Akron. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)
Malachi Nurse washes some of the windows inside the Lawton Street Community Center during the Youth Day of Action, part of the local 2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance, where young volunteers helped clean up at sites across Akron. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)

Youth Day of Doing

Jan. 19 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Various sites
Experience a day of volunteering for young people, including engaging conversations and collaborative activities as part of collective action. RSVP at mlkakron.org

MLK Day Donation Show

Jan. 16 | Doors open at 7 p.m.
Musica (51 E. Market St.)
Concert honoring the life and legacy of MLK Jr. with performances by DJ Xay, Vaundoom, Matter is Void, NatureNvoke, Mr. Rashaad and Papo. Canned goods will be collected to help give back to the community. Tickets are $10 online, $12 at the door. 

MLK Male Youth Summit 2026

Saturday, Jan. 17 | Breakfast at 8 a.m.; workshops at 9 a.m.; lunch at noon 
Akron Urban League (440 Vernon Odom Blvd.) 
This experience is designed to equip young men between the ages of 11 and 17 with real-life tools they can use every day such as nonviolent conflict resolution, effective communication and police interaction training. The event will create a safe, empowering space to learn, ask questions and build confidence. Free, register here.

Singers with the Deliverance Mass Choir
Singers with the Deliverance Mass Choir in the balcony of the First Congregational Church of Akron during the 2025 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron. (Doug Brown / Signal Akron)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture

Sunday, Jan. 18 | 2-4 p.m.
Akron-Summit County Public Library (60 S. High St.)
Jelani Cobb, dean of Columbia Journalism School and a Peabody Award-winning journalist, will give the library’s annual MLK Day lecture at the downtown branch. The event is free to attend and will be held in the auditorium. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. services.akronlibrary.org

(First of two events) The 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition

Sunday, Jan. 18 | 4 p.m.
First Congregational Church of Akron (292 E. Market St.) 
This year’s annual commemoration will feature Pastor Vincent Peterson of Providence Baptist Church. The program will include musical performances and speeches. Free, facebook.com

The 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition and Centenary United Methodist Church 

Sunday, Jan. 25 | 3:30 p.m.
First United Methodist Church (263 E. Mill St.) 
The Wilberforce University Chorus will perform, conducted by Dr. Justen V. Seay. A love offering for student scholarships will be held. Free, facebook.com

Attendees at the Akron Urban League's 2023 Annual MLK Breakfast.
Attendees at the Akron Urban League’s 2023 Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast (Photo by 2U Visuals)

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast

Monday, Jan. 19 | 8 a.m.
DoubleTree by Hilton Akron Fairlawn (3180 W. Market St.)
The Akron Urban League’s annual event will feature a lecture from the Rev. Dr. Eric George Vickers, senior pastor of Fairfield Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia. This year’s theme centers on this quote from King: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Individual tickets are $60, akronurbanleague.org 

Free admission to the Akron Art Museum

Monday, Jan. 19 | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Akron Art Museum (1 S. High St.)
Guests can explore the museum’s new and permanent exhibits and enjoy the New York International Children’s Film Festival’s Celebrating Black Stories short films. akronartmuseum.org 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Akron Zoo

Monday, Jan. 19 | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Akron Zoo (500 Edgewood Ave.)
The Akron Zoo will commemorate MLK Day with the opening of a temporary exhibit, “Celebrating Black History in Perkins Woods.” Guests can enjoy free admission all day. akronzoo.org 

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.