The 39th Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration is excited to announce its annual event will be held on Sunday, January 21, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. at Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church. This year’s keynote speaker will be award winning author and activist, Jocelyn Nicole Johnson.
Jocelyn Nicole Johnson is the author of My Monticello, a fiction debut that was called 'a masterly feat' by the New York Times and placed third on Time Magazine's 10 best books of the year. In the wake of her debut, Johnson has spoken with groups around the country about outsider stories, social justice, and the right to read without censorship. A veteran public school art teacher, Johnson lives and writes in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The committee is accepting letters of nomination and will present the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Award which goes to a resident of the greater Charlottesville area who has demonstrated Dr. King’s commitment to civil rights and to improving understanding between peoples of different races and ethnic backgrounds.
The committee is also accepting letters of application from community service groups and organizations for the proceeds from the celebration offering. The size of the grant depends upon the size of the offering. A letter describing how the money would be used is required.
Letters of nomination and or application for this year must be postmarked no later than January 5, 2024 and should be mailed to: Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee, c/o Reverend Dr. Alvin Edwards, 105 Lankford Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22903.