For over four decades, Indianapolis has gathered on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to reflect, unite and recommit to the civil rights leader’s dream. The tradition continues as the Madam Walker Legacy Center presents its 44th Annual MLK Day of Celebration, featuring renowned author and activist Bakari Sellers.
The free community event takes place at 7 p.m. on Jan 19 at the historic Walker Theatre. It is presented by The Indianapolis Foundation, with additional support from community partners including the Indianapolis African American Quality of Life Initiative, WISH-TV, Indianapolis Public Schools, 106.7 WTLC, The Indianapolis Recorder and youth program partner Seeds of Caring.
“The Annual MLK Day of Celebration is a powerful reminder that the work Dr. King began continues through each of us,” President of the Madam Walker Legacy Center Kristian Stricklen said. “Hosting this event in the historic Walker Theatre reinforces our responsibility to honor the past while actively shaping a more just future.”
The evening’s keynote speaker, Bakari Sellers, is a civil rights attorney, CNN political analyst and two-time New York Times bestselling author. Known for his insightful commentary on equity and justice, Sellers has written “My Vanishing Country, Who Are Your People?” and the newly released “The Moment.”
Ahead of the evening ceremony, the day will focus on nurturing the next generation of changemakers. In partnership with Seeds of Caring, the Madam Walker Legacy Center will host an MLK Day of Youth Service in the fourth-floor Ballroom. Designed for children ages 2 to 12, the hands-on service sessions aim to engage young people in acts of kindness and community care.
Two service sessions are scheduled: 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. These programs are crafted to uplift King’s enduring messages of service, social action and empowerment through age-appropriate activities.
The Walker Theatre, part of the Madam Walker Legacy Center, stands as a landmark named for Madam C.J. Walker — the trailblazing entrepreneur and philanthropist who became America’s first self-made female millionaire. The center today serves as a cultural hub dedicated to preserving her legacy while fostering entrepreneurship, education and community enrichment.
This year’s observance takes place at a time when national conversations about racial justice, voting rights and social equity remain urgent. Community leaders view the day not only as a tribute but as a call to sustained action.
“We invite everyone, of all ages, to join us in the spirit of Dr. King,” Stricklen said. “It’s a time to honor his legacy, celebrate how far we’ve come, and renew our shared commitment to the work still ahead.”
The Madam Walker Legacy Center’s MLK Day celebration is one of Indianapolis’s longest-running public tributes to the civil rights icon.
Registration for the youth service sessions and additional details about the evening program are available online at the Madam Walker Legacy Center’s official website at madamwalkerlegacycenter.com.
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