Members of Akron‘s Black community filled the sanctuary Sunday of First Congregational Church for the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition. The joyous event focused on honoring the civil rights leader’s legacy, along with promoting community engagement.

The celebration featured a theme of advocacy and community growth, with speeches from pastors — including keynote speaker Pastor Vincent Peterson of Providence Baptist Church — and local leaders, choir performances and the presentation of scholarship awards for area students in partnership with the Akron NAACP. 

The celebration is a nearly 50-year tradition in Akron, focusing on empowering youth and upholding King’s principles of justice and equality.

Akron resident Joan Sullivan claps along during a musical performance at the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Akron resident Joan Sullivan claps along during a musical performance at the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. The event was one of many across the city that commemorated King’s life and legacy. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Donell Phipps (center) leads the Deliverance Mass Choir and community members in song during the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Donell Phipps (center) leads the Deliverance Mass Choir and community members in song during the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. The event was one of many across the city that commemorated King’s life and legacy. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Pastor Vincent Peterson of Providence Baptist Church delivers the keynote address during the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Pastor Vincent Peterson of Providence Baptist Church delivers the keynote address during the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. The event was one of many across the city that commemorated King’s life and legacy. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Members of the Deliverance Mass Choir perform during the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Members of the Deliverance Mass Choir perform during the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. The event was one of many across the city that commemorated King’s life and legacy. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Donell Phipps leads the Deliverance Mass Choir during the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Donell Phipps leads the Deliverance Mass Choir during the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. The event was one of many across the city that commemorated King’s life and legacy. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Gia Bell (center) hugs Minister Peggy Holmes (right) after Bell's son Gaven Davis (left) received scholarship funds at the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. Davis, who is from Akron, is a freshman at Wittenberg University majoring in business and pre-law. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Gia Bell (center) hugs Minister Peggy Holmes (right) after Bell’s son Gaven Davis (left) received scholarship funds at the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. Davis, who is from Akron, is a freshman at Wittenberg University majoring in business and pre-law. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Akron resident Deborah Vaughn claps along during a musical performance at the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Akron resident Deborah Vaughn claps along during a musical performance at the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. The event was one of many across the city that commemorated King’s life and legacy. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Akron resident Sadie Smith listens to a musical performance at the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Akron resident Sadie Smith listens to a musical performance at the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. The event was one of many across the city that commemorated King’s life and legacy. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Akron Mayor Shammas Malik speaks during the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Akron Mayor Shammas Malik speaks during the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. The event was one of many across the city that commemorated King’s life and legacy. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Community members listen to Pastor Vincent Peterson of Providence Baptist Church as he delivers the keynote address during the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Community members listen to Pastor Vincent Peterson of Providence Baptist Church as he delivers the keynote address during the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. The event was one of many across the city that commemorated King’s life and legacy. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
State Rep. Veronica Sims (center) attends the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
State Rep. Veronica Sims (center) attends the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. The event was one of many across the city that commemorated King’s life and legacy. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Akron resident Odell Daniels Jr. holds his phone aloft during the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Akron resident Odell Daniels Jr. holds his phone aloft during the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. The event was one of many across the city that commemorated King’s life and legacy. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) speaks during the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) speaks during the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. The event was one of many across the city that commemorated King’s life and legacy. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Members of the Deliverance Mass Choir sing "We Shall Overcome" during the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Members of the Deliverance Mass Choir sing “We Shall Overcome” during the 47th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day Coalition at First Congregational Church of Akron on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. The event was one of many across the city that commemorated King’s life and legacy. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)

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.