Community invited to Piedmont’s 29th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

City of Piedmont

Congresswoman Lateefah Simon speaks at the 2025 MLK Day celebration in Piedmont.

Tickets are now available for Piedmont’s 29th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration on Monday, Jan. 19 at 11 am, presented by the Piedmont Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee (PADC) and the City of Piedmont.

29th Annual Piedmont Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Monday, January 19, 11 a.m.
Tickets: Free; advance registration required
Register online HERE

This year’s featured speaker is Congresswoman Lateefah Simon, in conversation with award-winning journalist Lisa Armstrong of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. The event brings together community leaders, students, artists, and performers for a reflective and forward-looking commemoration of Dr. King’s legacy.

Tickets are free but capacity is limited, and the event sells out each year. Community members are encouraged to reserve tickets early.

Crowd at the 2025 celebration in the Alan Harvey Theater

Choosing Our Future: Chaos or Community
The theme of this year’s celebration, “Chaos of Community: Choosing Our Future”, is drawn from Dr. King’s 1967 book, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?, and from his Nobel Peace Prize address. The program invites reflection on shared responsibility, collective agency, and the enduring choice to build community grounded in dignity, justice, and nonviolence.

Organizers emphasize that Dr. King’s vision was not abstract or passive, but rooted in action – a reminder that the future is shaped by the choices communities make together.

Featured speakers and performances
In addition to the keynote conversation, the program will feature:
• Betsy Smegal Andersen, Mayor of Piedmont
• Ellen Lee, PADC President
• Sogorea Te’ Land Trust
• PUSD African Affinity Student Union
• Destiny Junior Company Dance Team
• Student art and essay showcase

The annual celebration is planned and produced by PADC volunteers, whose year-round work focuses on advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging in Piedmont. The City of Piedmont is proud to support and co-host this event.

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