MLK events to be held Valley-wide

By Delarita Ford
Mail | X: @AzNewsmedia

Celebrations and community services events commemorating the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are underway as municipalities and community groups partner for festivities throughout the Valley.

Municipalities including Phoenix, Surprise, Scottsdale, Mesa and more are among the Valley-wide celebrations honoring the late civil rights leader.

Among the first to celebrate the occasion is the city of Tempe and the Human Relations Commission, which held its 2025 MLK Diversity Awards Ceremony on Jan. 13, recognizing people and organizations committed to diversity, inclusion, and those exemplifying the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to make his dream a reality.

Check local area websites for updates regarding events scheduled throughout the month. Some of the happenings are detailed below in alphabetical order.

Anthem

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration & Unity Walk 2025 is 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at Anthem Civic Building, 3701 W. Anthem Way. In addition to a free continental breakfast at 9 a.m., the fourth annual Anthem MLK Day Celebration includes a unity walk for the community. Information: anthemcouncil.com.

Chandler

City of Chandler’s series of events are slated for Friday, Jan. 17, starting with a Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Awards Ceremony at 4 p.m. in the Chandler City Council Chambers, 88 E. Chicago Street, to celebrate contributions of Chandler residents and youth who promote human and civil rights for "a compassionate, socially-just community.” Information: chandleraz.gov/events/dr-martin-luther-king-junior-awards-ceremony

Chandler Multicultural Festival
The Chandler Multicultural Festival is a part of the annual Celebration of Unity events 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park Stage Plaza, 178 E. Commonwealth Ave. Information: chandleraz.gov/events/chandler-multicultural-festival

Glendale

MLK Day of Service is 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Jan. 18, at Sahuaro Ranch Park, 9802 N. 59th Ave., and Manistee Ranch Park, 5127 W. Northern Ave.
HandsOn Greater Phoenix and St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, the city of Glendale welcomes more than 200 volunteers to help glean fruit from Sahuaro Ranch Park to beautify the Glendale landmark. Information: glendaleaz.com

Mesa

The Mesa-East Valley MLK Committee is hosting the 28th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade and Festival with a theme of Building Bridges: Cultivating our Community on Jan. 20. The theme highlights a “collective responsibility to sow the seeds of unity, growth, and collaboration, ensuring that every voice is heard and every contribution is valued,” according to published reports.

The MLK Parade 2025 starts at 11 a.m. at MLK Way and Center Street in downtown Mesa. The festival is noon-4 p.m. at the Plaza at Mesa City Center. Enjoy food, a Kids Corner with games and activities for all ages, and more. In partnership with The Sidney Poitier New American Film School at Arizona State University and the ASU MIX Center, a special viewing of the movie “Selma” will be shown at 1 p.m. at the school, 40 E Pepper Place, Mesa. Vendor applications, sponsorships and more information: mesaevmlk.org.

Paradise Valley

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration is at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at the Paradise Valley Town Hall, 6401 E. Lincoln Drive.

Peoria

Peoria’s Arts and Culture Department with Vibrant Communities will have a community event 3-6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, at Peoria City Hall Centennial Park back lawn, 8401 W. Monroe Street. Live arts and cultural entertainment includes Jacki Morales from Mega 104.3 as event host, Peoria Unified School District children’s choir performances, singer Lisa Hightower, and the headlining group The Kings of Soul Band, African drumming demonstrations by Lydia Woods of Drum Arizona, and a live mural painting by local artist Cinque Smith. There will be food trucks with complimentary small bites. For a full meal, full plate options will also be available to buy from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Information: peoriaaz.gov/events.

Phoenix

The Arizona Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee hosts the MLK Celebration for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. March and Festival starting 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20. City of Phoenix leaders, schools, local businesses, churches and community organizations will pay homage with its traditional MLK March beginning at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, 1401 E. Jefferson Street, and ending at Hance Park. Assemble at 8:45 a.m. and the march begins at 9 a.m. The MLK Festival is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Margaret T. Hance Park, 67 W. Culver Street, Phoenix. Information: azmlk.org or email info@azmlk.org.

Also in Phoenix, MLK Jr. Mass & Service Awards Breakfast will be held 10 a.m. Jan. 18 at Xavier College Preparatory, 4710 N. Fifth St., Phoenix. St. Josephine Bakhita Mission Parish will host the event offering an opportunity to gather in unity, honor service, and support those in need in the community. Information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mlk-mass-service-awards-service-breakfast-tickets-1067970250769?aff=oddtdtcreator

Scottsdale

Community Celebrating Diversity – MLK Celebration is at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at The Fieldhouse at Scottsdale Stadium, 7408 E. Osborn Road. Best-selling author/former politician Bakari Sellers, who hosts the Bakari Sellers Podcast, a twice-a-week show, which is part of The Ringer Podcast Network, is the guest speaker. He practices law with the Strom Law Firm in Columbia, South Carolina, where he heads the firm’s strategic communication and public affairs team. Tickets and more details: ccdarizona.org

Surprise

The city of Surprise Human Services and Community Vitality Department hosts the ninth annual MLK Day of Celebration and Service 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Jan. 18, at Willow Canyon High School, 17901 W. Lundberg Street. Theme, “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve,” encourages community members of all ages to embrace service as a path to greatness.

A volunteer check-in and a free breakfast for the first 500 volunteers starts the day, followed by the celebration program at 9 a.m. with an invocation from Transformation Community Church Pastor Jason L. Flowers, and a welcome address from Surprise Mayor Kevin Sartor. TV Broadcaster Susan Casper will emcee. Performances by the Willow Canyon choir, Surprise Sings Community Choir, Voices of Gideon from Gideon Missionary Baptist Church, Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Choir and The Be Kind People Project are slated.

The celebration will also highlight local nonprofit organizations and community submissions to the #SurpriseCelebratesMLK challenge to individuals and groups to reflect on “How do you serve?” After the program, from 10 a.m. to noon, attendees participate in hands-on service projects including packing food for a local food bank, assembling hygiene kits, writing letters of encouragement, and more. Preregistration is required, groups and individuals can sign up at surpriseaz.gov/DOSVolunteer. Vitalant mobile blood drive is 8 a.m-12 p.m. Information: surpriseaz.gov/MLK. For sponsorship opportunities or general event information, contact Kara Poling at kara.poling@surpriseaz.gov, or call 623-222-1647.

Tempe

Arizona State University Tempe Campus
The 34th Annual MLK March on West is Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Arizona State University’s West campus. Since 1991, the march features middle school students, ASU community members, and the public celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and fosters understanding about the historical 1963 March on Washington. Educational presentations about the history of the civil rights movement and an inspirational rendition of the “I Have a Dream” speech will be presented by ASU faculty member Charles St. Clair. Information: mlk.asu.edu/event/mlk-march-on-west.

The ASU MLK Celebration Committee and Changemaker Central at ASU will present its “Changemaker” Day of Service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King/MLK day of service on Saturday, Jan. 25. Information: mlk.asu.edu.

Delarita Ford
Lead Reporter | Surprise

dford@iniusa.org

Meet Delarita
Delarita Ford originally joined Independent Newspapers Incorporated, now Independent Newsmedia, Inc. USA in 1997, as a general assignment reporter for the Delaware State News daily paper after starting her journalism career in Maryland in 1994, where she honed her skills by writing obituaries, covering community news from births to deaths, education to legislation and more. As a reporter, she has had the opportunity to cover sitting and former U.S. presidential visits in Baltimore, Delaware, and Arizona.

Community: One of the few seasoned journalists who still enjoys covering community events, she can be found with a reporter’s pad taking notes, her phone taking pictures while capturing life’s moments to memorialize them in print for the local newspapers and for the active-adult community where she lives. She maintains a presence with the Black media and the National Association of Black Journalists to encourage peers, socialize, and mentor younger writers.

Education: Life learner who learns from life. Aside from the collegiate education received, she got the best training from on-the-job experience with former editors who went through copy with a red pen and demanded the best writing for hard news and feature stories. 

Random Fact: While a Delaware State News reporter, she could call then Sen. Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, usually late at night if a quote or input was needed for varying topics, including legislation and education.

Hobbies: Adopt rescue dogs and give them a nice home. Continuously read and critique news stories from various platforms.