Join the First Ever Virtual Birthday Celebration for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Honorable Karen Bass will be one of the keynote speakers at the January 18 event. Congressmember Bass was the first African American woman chosen to be the Speaker of the California Assembly in 2008, where she served for six years. She is currently Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus of the United States House of Representatives.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Westside Coalition will be presenting several events celebrating his life and legacy this month. The 2021 theme is “If not us, then who? If not now, then when?” On Thursday, January 14, “Unfinished Work” will include youth from New Roads School as they explore the legacy of Dr. King by acknowledging, challenging, disrupting and shining a light on institutional and structural racism. This event will be at 6 p.m.

On Friday, January 15 at 9 a.m., a MLK Freedom Celebration will be held. For information and donations, contact 310-452-1116, which is the office at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church.

The Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra will present its annual concert on Saturday, January 16 at 2 p.m. Guido Lamekl will conduct.

The National Holiday Celebration will be held on Monday, January 18 at 9 a.m. It will feature performances by the Samohi choir and the Peace Player Drummers. Keynote speakers will be Tamika Butler, Esq. and the Honorable Karen Bass. A Community Light Award will be presented to the Village Nation, and education awards will be presented to local students.

The Community Involvement Fair will follow virtually on their websites. For more details, please visit www.mlkjrwestside.org, or call 818-207-3934.

Tamika Butler, Esq. is a national expert and lecturer on issues related to the built environment, equity, anti-racism, diversity, and inclusion. She will also be a speaker.