Description

Elgin Announces 41st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Events Elgin, IL - 

The City of Elgin’s Human Relations Commission and its Martin Luther King Jr. Subcommittee will host the 41st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Events throughout January 2026. Residents of all ages are invited to honor the life, legacy and continued work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through opportunities for service, reflection, education and celebration.

Event highlights include: 

MLK Food Drive (January 5 – 18) A citywide food drive benefiting Food for Greater Elgin and other local food pantries. Donations will be accepted at area schools, Elgin City Hall, the Edward Schock Centre, Elgin fire stations, and participating houses of worship. Monetary donations are also encouraged. Additional details are available at elginil.gov/MLK. 

41st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast (Saturday, January 17, 8:30 a.m.) The annual Prayer Breakfast will be held at Elgin Community College. Tickets are $30 and available for purchase online. 

Sunday Celebration at the Hemmens (Sunday, January 18, 4-6 p.m.) A free community celebration at the Hemmens Cultural Center featuring music, dance performances and the announcement of MLK Scholarship recipients. No registration is required. 

MLK Youth Event (Monday, January 19, 8 a.m. - noon) A free event for middle and high school students at The Centre of Elgin, featuring workshops, facilitated discussions, and breakfast and lunch. Advance registration is required. 

MLK Panel Discussion Series Gail Borden Public Library, in collaboration with the MLK Subcommittee of the Elgin Human Relations Commission, will host a series of panel discussions examining the significance of Dr. King’s work and legacy. The panels will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. between January 14 and February 4. More information is available on the Gail Borden Library's website. •January 14: American Theologian •January 21: Civil Rights •January 28: Nonviolence •February 4: Poverty 

Residents are encouraged to attend one or more events throughout the month as the community comes together to honor Dr. King’s legacy. 

Full event details and registration information are available at elginil.gov/mlk. ###