St. Louis community organizations will gather on Saturday, January 17, 2026, for The 8th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Fountain Park Holiday Observance, a public event honoring the life and legacy of Dr. King while confronting the ongoing challenges facing North St. Louis neighborhoods.
The observance is being hosted by a broad coalition of faith-based, civic, neighborhood, and service organizations, including Centennial Christian Church, the Fountain Park and Lewis Place Neighborhood Association, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Epsilon Lambda Chapter and Foundation, Central West End Church, Peoples Community Action Corporation, St. Louis Public Schools, The Jackson Law Firm, Committeewoman Yolonda “Yogi” Yancie, and Mission STL. Together, the partners aim to create a space that blends reflection, action, and community healing.
This year’s theme, “The Courage to Begin Anew: Affirming Dignity and Action in the Face of Adversity,” is deeply connected to local circumstances. Centennial Christian Church and the surrounding Fountain Park and Lewis Place neighborhoods continue rebuilding after the May 16, 2025 tornado that destroyed the church building and caused extensive damage to the area, including the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. statue in Fountain Park. Organizers describe the 2026 observance as both a tribute and a recommitment to collective recovery.
The day will begin with a Unity Gathering from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. statue in Fountain Park, located at 4950 Fountain Avenue. The keynote address will be delivered by Joseph Salvador Palm, commissioner with the U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys and a former regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Following the morning gathering, the observance will continue with an MLK Youth Educational Program from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at People’s Health Center, 5701 Delmar Boulevard. The youth program will feature educational presentations, dramatizations, and artistic experiences centered on Dr. King’s principles of service, dignity, and unity. Lunch will be provided, and registration is required.
Organizers say the observance is designed to move beyond ceremony, echoing Dr. King’s call to remain united, love collectively, and rise together in the face of adversity.
Contact Information
Centennial Christian Church
Phone: 314-367-1818
Email: mlk@stlalphas.com
Website: https://www.aphia-epsilonlambda.org/mlk
Hashtag: #mlk2026stl
