Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Building the Dream Through Entrepreneurship

Martin Luther King Jr. is often remembered for his powerful words and historic marches—but at the core of his vision was something deeply practical: economic justice.

Dr. King understood that freedom without opportunity is incomplete. He spoke openly about poverty, access to capital, and the responsibility of institutions to uplift communities that had been systematically excluded. His dream was not symbolic—it was structural.

At Black & Brown Founders, we see entrepreneurship as a modern extension of that legacy.

When founders from underrepresented communities gain access to technology, education, funding, and support, they don’t just build companies—they:

  • Create jobs

  • Circulate wealth locally

  • Strengthen families and neighborhoods

  • Shape future generations of leaders

This work matters now more than ever.

Despite record innovation and creativity, Black and Brown entrepreneurs continue to face disproportionate barriers to capital, networks, and scalable infrastructure. Our mission is to remove those barriers—intentionally and relentlessly.

On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we reaffirm our commitment to:

  • Empowering founders with real tools, not just inspiration

  • Designing systems that support long-term sustainability

  • Advancing equity through ownership and innovation

Dr. King reminded us that progress requires courage, collaboration, and action. We honor his legacy by building—together—a future where opportunity is not the exception, but the standard.

The dream continues. And we are building it—one founder at a time.


US National & Citywide Events Happening on Jan 19, 2026

📍 Major Parades & Marches

  • 21st Annual MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk & Parade — Peace walk and parade celebrating Dr. King’s legacy with theme “The Struggle is Real! The Fight Is Still!” starting at 11 AM in Washington, D.C. (MLK Holiday DC)

  • MLK Parade in Las Vegas — Thousands expected for the 44th Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade with church services and scholarship banquets. (King Week Las Vegas)

  • Mesa-East Valley MLK Parade & Festival — Parade followed by community festival from ~11 AM to 4 PM in Mesa, Arizona. (City of Mesa)

  • MLK March in San Francisco — Commemorative march in downtown San Francisco (approx. 11 AM). (Fabulous California)

  • Phoenix/Valley MLK March & Services — AZMLK commemorative march (starts ~8:45 AM) and Sunday evening candlelight service. (ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix (KNXV))

🤝 Community Service & Volunteer Activities

  • MLK Jr. Day of Service (Penn State) — Volunteer service from 10 AM–2 PM at HUB-Robeson Center, focusing on community engagement. (Penn State)

  • Service Events (Arizona) — Multiple community service opportunities tied to MLK Day across Arizona. (Copper Courier)

🏙️ Local & Special Celebrations

  • Community Day: Martin Luther King Jr – Stronger Together (Newark Museum of Art) — Family & community program celebrating unity and service. (Eventbrite)

  • UNCF MLK Jr Breakfast – Washington, DC Area — Annual MLK Birthday Breakfast to support HBCUs and student scholars (9 AM–11 AM). (UNCF)

  • National Constitution Center (Philadelphia) — Free admission + educational programs exploring Dr. King’s legacy from 10 AM–5 PM. (Constitution Center)

  • CT & New England Events — Art activities, performances, and youth workshops honoring MLK in Connecticut communities. (Connecticut Public)

🗓️ Other Related & Pre-Holiday Events

Some organizations have extended celebrations or tribute events before January 19:

  • MLK Jr. Beloved Community Awards & Commemorative Service (Atlanta) — Hosted by The King Center with awards (Jan 17) and service on Jan 19 at Ebenezer Baptist Church. (The King Center)

  • Body & SOUL MLK 2026 Celebration (NYC) — Music/dance event on Sunday, January 18 in New York City. (Eventbrite)

🏈 Special National Recognition

  • NFL Honors MLK — During postseason games around MLK Day, “Choose Love” messages appear in end zones and on helmets to reflect King’s values of dignity and unity. (AP News)

📌 Notes About the Holiday

  • MLK Day is a federal holiday observed annually on the third Monday in January — in 2026, that’s January 19. (Wikipedia)

  • Many federal offices and banks close in observance, and it’s promoted as a “day on, not a day off” to honor Dr. King’s legacy through action and service. (the-sun.com)

Carlos Gladden