Local Students Will Take Part In Youth Discussion At MLK Event On Jan. 19
The Harrodsburg Herald/Robert Moore
The commemorative march in last year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day event. This year’s event—which includes a youth panel discussion—is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, at the Harrodsburg Baptist Church starting at 10 a.m.
Robert Moore
Herald Staff
[email protected]
Students from Mercer County and Burgin Independent schools will participate in a youth panel discussion as part of the 20th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day event on Monday, Jan. 19, at Harrodsburg Baptist Church (312 South Main Street).
Breakfast starts at 10 a.m. The commemorative march begins at 11 a.m. at the back entrance of the church on Chiles Street and down Chiles Street, turns right on Lexington Street, then turns right on Main Street and returns to the church. The program starts 11:30 a.m. Kiara Brewer of the University of Louisville will serve as facilitator for the youth panel discussion.
This year’s theme is “Dream Forward: Love, Action and the Legacy We Build.” The theme relates to a quote from Dr. King: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'”
The focus of the MLK event is on bringing the community together, said Burgin City Councilwoman Melinda Wofford, who serves on the MLK Day Committee, along with Donna Linton, Wilma Linton and Jill Cutler, the executive director of the Mercer County Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to the panel discussion, the MLK Day Committee will present awards to winners of the design and art contests. The winning entry from the design contest will be printed on this year’s T-shirt or button. The winning entry from the art contest will be shared in the Harrodsburg Herald and on display at the event. The winner of the poem and essay contest will read their essay at the MLK Day event.
At presstime, organizers were still collecting contest entries.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday that honors the life of Dr. King, an advocate for racial equality and nonviolent social change. King and his brother, Rev. A.D. Williams King, the pastor at Zion Baptist Church in Louisville, joined Kentucky civil rights leaders in the March on Frankfort on March 5, 1964, in which 10,000 people—including many from here in Mercer County—marched to the state capitol to demand an end to segregation. Their efforts bore fruit two years later. In 1966, Kentucky became the first state in the South to make segregation illegal and to enforce equal access and treatment in stores, restaurants, hotels, theaters, other businesses and public places. A.D. King was also one of the organizers of the successful 1968 campaign for an open-housing ordinance here in Kentucky.
Officially, King was born on Jan. 15, 1929, but the federal holiday is celebrated every year on the third Monday in January.
“It’s a day on, not a day off,” Wofford said.
MLK Day in Mercer County is a day of service. The service project will support the community blessing boxes located around the county. Those planning to attend are asked to bring a non-perishable, ready-to-eat food item. Organizers are asking for items in easy-to-open cans, such as soups, chili, beans, tuna, vegetables and fruit. They’re also asking for breakfast items, including cereal, oatmeal packets, pancake mix, powdered milk, coffee, tea. They are also asking for snacks to stock the blessing boxes, including Granola bars, fruit cups, crackers and snack mixes.
Mercer County’s 20th Annual 2026 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, at the Harrodsburg Baptist Church (312 South Main Street). The breakfast starts at 10 a.m. The commemorative march begins at 11 a.m. and the youth panel discussion starts 11:30 a.m.
Wofford and the other members of the celebration committee are inviting community partners to come and set up during the event.
“It will be a great event,” she said.
For more information, email Donna Linton at [email protected] or visit their Facebook page.
