The Lexington MLK Day Celebration is heartbroken to learn of the passing of the legendary Nikki Giovanni. A beacon of hope and a champion of social justice. Her words continue to resonate.

As we mourn her loss, we reaffirm our dedication to the ideals she embodied. We invite you to join us for the 2025 MLK Day Celebration, where we will honor Dr. King's legacy and pay tribute to the life and work of Nikki Giovanni. 

Joining us in this celebration is Rev. Dr. Nyle Fort - a minister, organizer, and scholar dedicated to building Dr. King's "Beloved Community" through social justice work. From local communities to global initiatives, his efforts include co- founding the Maroon Project (an activist incubator in Newark), establishing the Organizing Praxis Lab (a community organizing training program), and creating Seven Last Words (an interfaith service for victims of police violence).

He has also served in international fellowships and represented the U.S. at the Vatican's World Meeting of Popular Movements. A prolific speaker and writer, Dr. Fort has presented at numerous prestigious venues and published in various outlets. He holds degrees from Morehouse College, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Princeton University, and is currently an Assistant Professor at Columbia University.

In 2025 we celebrate the 52nd anniversary of Lexington’s annual city-wide observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, making it one of the oldest such programs in the country. This storied event has been praised by media commentators and some of our illustrious speakers as “one of the best in the country for its consistent record of presenting thoughtful, timely and creatively uplifting programs”.

Follow THIS LINK below to learn more about the history of this event!

Bluegrass Community & Technical College (BCTC) and Kentucky State University (KSU), in partnership with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Planning Committee, is excited to offer the annual MLK Student Scholarships. The scholarships are open to high school seniors who plan to attend BCTC or KSU. Scholarship recipients will receive one-year of paid tuition to BCTC or KSU beginning in the Fall 2025 semester. 

For more information on this scholarship and how to apply, please see the below links:

BCTC ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CELEBRATION SCHOLARSHIP

KSU ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CELEBRATION SCHOLARSHIP

To become a sponsor, please follow THIS LINK to fill out a sponsorship form or make a credit card donation below to the MLK Holiday Committee Fund at Blue Grass Community Foundation! 

*$100 to $499 donors (MLK Allies) will also be recognized in event publication* 

MLK Holiday Committee Fund