STANDING TOGETHER IN HOPE AND JUSTICE
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast is an annual gathering that pays tribute to the enduring legacy of one of the most iconic figures in American history. Dr. King was a visionary civil rights leader who dedicated his life to advocating for justice, equality, and nonviolent social change. This inspiring breakfast brings together people from all walks of life to celebrate his memory, reflect on his powerful message, and recommit to the principles of unity and equality that he championed. Together, we can continue to bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice, just as Dr. King did in his lifetime.
37th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast
Unity in Diversity: Our Single Garment of Destiny
On Monday, January 20, 2025, to celebrate the 37th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast, we will welcome acclaimed author and activist Ijeoma Oluo to share her thoughts on Dr. King’s enduring impact and the continued fight for equity and justice. As we gather to honor Dr. King’s legacy, we will take time to reflect on the progress still needed to achieve the ideals he preached.
Our theme this year, Unity in Diversity: Our Single Garment of Destiny, draws inspiration from Dr. King’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech. Recognizing that this year’s breakfast falls on Inauguration Day, the theme of unity feels particularly urgent as we reflect on the divisions facing our nation. It serves as a poignant reminder that our collective strength lies in our diversity, and our diverse backgrounds and experiences are a gift that when seen, recognized, and celebrated can propel our community forward.
MLK Breakfast will feature vibrant performances, inspiring youth writing, and the presentation of the Essence of Humanity, Ruby Payne Cook, and Crispus Attucks Legacy awards, along with time for community connection and fellowship. We hope you’ll join us!
37th Annual MLK Breakfast, featuring Ijeoma Oluo
Monday, January 20, 2025, registration begins at 7 a.m.
Ville Courts
Student Memorial Center at Millersville University
113 Shenks Lane, Millersville, PA 17551
New Breakfast Schedule
We know everyone’s schedules are busy, especially on a Monday morning, so we are shifting our breakfast schedule to honor both connection and timeliness.
7-7:30 a.m. – Registration and Networking
7:30 a.m. – Welcome & Invocation, breakfast buffet opens
8:15 a.m. – Formal Program Begins, breakfast buffet closes
MLK Breakfast and Crispus Attucks Community Center
In addition to being a time for the community to come together around the life and legacy of Dr. King, MLK Breakfast is also the largest fundraiser for Crispus Attucks Community Center, annually raising $100,000 in critical funds for the Center (nearly 1/3 of the its yearly budget).
The Center is a cultural hub that creates equitable community by honoring African American history, elevating the Black experience, and caring for our neighbors. Through programs and events that promote community prosperity, we are carrying on a nearly century-old legacy of advocacy and resource offerings in southeast Lancaster City.
Keynote Speaker – Ijeoma Oluo
Ijeoma Oluo (ee-joh-mah oh-loo-oh) is a Seattle-based Writer, Speaker and Internet Yeller. Her work on social issues such as race and gender has been published in The Guardian, Esquire, Washington Post, ELLE Magazine, New York Times, NBC News and more. She has been featured on The Daily Show, All Things Considered, BBC News, and more.
Her #1 NYT bestselling first book, So You Want To Talk About Race, was released January 2018 with Seal Press. Her Second book, MEDIOCRE: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America, was published December 2020 with Seal Press and her book, Be A Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World – and How You Can Too, was published in January 2024 with Harper One.
Ijeoma was named one of the Most Influential People in Seattle by Seattle Magazine, one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Seattle by Seattle Met, one of The Root’s 100 Most Influential African Americans in 2017 & 2018, and is the recipient of the Feminist Humanist Award 2018 by the American Humanist Association, the Harvard Humanist of the year 2020, the Media Justice Award by the Gender Justice League, and the 2018 Aubrey Davis Visionary Leadership Award by the Equal Opportunity Institute.
Champion Sponsors
Millersville University
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
Legacy Sponsors
Franklin & Marshall College
Highmark | Penn State Health
Marotta/Main Architects
PNC
School District of Lancaster
Shumaker PDT
TAIT
UPMC Health Plan/UPMC Central Pa. Region
Wellspan Health
Justice Sponsors
Arconic
Armstrong World Industries
Banzhof’s/ Capp’s
Barley Snyder
Capital Blue Cross
Cargas
City Limits Foundation
Electron Energy Corporation
Elizabethtown College
Grudi Associates
Jaxxon Promotions Inc.
Lancaster City Alliance
Lancaster Theological Seminary | Moravian University
Laura Schanz Consulting Associates, LLC
McKonly & Asbury LLP
McNees Wallace & Nurick
M&T Bank
Patients R Waiting
TriStarr
WLCH Radio Centro
Walz Group
Woodstream Foundation
Work Wisdom
Advocate Sponsors
Alice Yoder, County Commissioner
Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home
Commons Company
Community First Fund
Danene Sorace, Mayor
Donegal Insurance Group
EG Stoltzfus
EHD
GIANT
Gibbel Kraybill & Hess LLP
Groff Funeral and Cremation Services
Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square
Murray | Glatfelter Insurance
North Group Consultants
RLPS Architects
Rainmakers Association Lodge
Rodgers & Associates
TCW – GAV, Inc.
Truist
Univest Financial