Baton Rouge, La. — January 7, 2023 — Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome announced MLK Holiday BR 2023 — an annual series of initiatives, programs, and service projects to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The celebration is set to begin on Wednesday, January 11, and continue through the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday on Monday, January 16.

“This year’s theme, Dare to Dream: Shifting Priorities to Create a Thriving Community, reminds us that we must be audacious when creating a community that is prosperous, healthy and safe,” said Mayor Broome. “Businesses, community organizations, and residents can engage in the MLK celebration through sponsorship, donations, and volunteering for service events.”

MLK Holiday BR Events:

Register for Events at MLKHolidayBR.com.

• Small Business Seminar
  WHEN:  9 a.m. Wednesday, January 11 
  WHERE: Womack Park Ballroom, 6201 Florida Blvd., in partnership with BREC
  WHAT: Small companies interested in doing business with BREC or City-Parish can learn about certification programs, vendor resources and available opportunities.
  
  
• Unity Prayer Brunch
  WHEN: 9 a.m. Saturday, January 14
  WHERE: L’Auberge Casino and Hotel 
  WHAT: Partnership with the Gamma Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Sorority, Inc. Diverse Faith Leaders to honor the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and uplift the Baton Rouge community in prayer.
  
  
• First Time Homebuyer’s Informational Event hosted by Louisiana Housing Corporation and Sen. Regina Barrow
  WHEN: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, January 14
  WHERE: LSU Health Baton Rouge Clinic, 5439 Airline Highway
  WHAT: The Louisiana Housing Corporation and Senator Regina Barrow will discuss available resources, down payment assistance programs, credit counseling, and more. 
  
  
• MLK Church Service  
  WHEN: 9 a.m. Monday, January 16
  WHERE: Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in partnership with the Baton Rouge Branch of NAACP
  WHAT: Celebration honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in partnership with the Baton Rouge Branch of NAACP. Immediately after the Church Service, join us for a peace walk, second line led by the Soulistik Brass Band, and reflections at historic landmarks Lincoln Hotel, Webb’s Barber Shop, and the Purple Circle Social Club amplifying stories that remember our past, honor our present, and ignite our future. This will leave from Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church to Expressway Park.
  
  
• MLK Festival of Service 
  WHEN: 11:30 a.m. Monday, January 16
  WHERE: BREC Expressway Park featuring music, food, and vendors
  WHAT: Join us for a culminating experience celebrating the progress made throughout the series of events while honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This event features food trucks, vendors, performances, and Battle of the Bands between McKinley Senior High and Scotlandville Magnet High.
  
  

Community Service Events by Metro Council Members:
Sign Up to Volunteer at mlkholidaybr.com/volunteer.

Creative Placemaking: Public art projects including painting; District 2 Creative Placemaking at the Jewel J. Newman Community Center, 2013 Central Rd., Baton Rouge, January 13, 14 & 16, with two shifts available each day from 8 a.m.-noon or noon-4 p.m. 

• District 3 Mural, Literacy, and Community Resource Fair at the Hartley/Vey Park at Gardere, 1702 Gardere Ln., in partnership with Gardere Initiative, Line4Line, and Emergent Method, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, January 16
• District 7 Creative Placemaking at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 4000 Gus Young Ave., January 13, 14 & 16 with two shifts available each day from 8 a.m.-noon or noon-4 p.m.
• HealthyBR & YMCA Painting at the C.B. Pennington Jr. YMCA, 15550 Old Hammond Hwy., noon-4 p.m. January 16

Community Clean-Ups: Support removing junk and trash in our streets and neighborhoods

• District 6 Blight Remediation + Community Clean-Up at 1124 Marque Ann Drive, 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, January 14
• Mid-City Redevelopment Alliance Historic Sweet Olive Cemetery Clean-Up, 9:30 a.m.-noon Saturday, January 14
• District 3 Community Clean-Up at the Hartley/Vey @ Gardere, 1702 Gardere Ln., 8-10 a.m. Monday, January 16

Community Gardening: Support the building of new community gardens and enhancement of existing community gardens providing fresh foods to the community.

• Baton Roots Gardening at Clarksdale Community Garden, 801 Swan S, 8 a.m.-noon Friday, January 13
• Baton Roots Gardening at Capitol High School, 8 a.m.-noon Monday, January 16
• District 5 Community Garden Building in partnership with the Southern University Ag Center at the Charles R. Kelly Community Center, 3535 Riley St., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, January 16

Current sponsors and partners for MLK Holiday BR 2023 include Humana, Coca-Cola, AHF Healthcare, Emergent Method, Walls Project and NAACP Baton Rouge.

Interested sponsors and donors are encouraged to visit mlkholidaybr.com/sponsor.