Celebrating Community, Talent, and Opportunity: Highlights from the Third Annual MLK Celebration

What an inspiring night it was at the Third Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, Supporting Our Youth, Defending Our History! We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to every attendee, performer, volunteer, sponsor, and supporter who joined us for an unforgettable evening filled with powerful performances, joyful music, meaningful reflections, and generous support for an important cause.

This year’s event brought our community together in celebration of Dr. King’s legacy and to raise funds for the Charlotte King Scholarship — a program created to uplift and empower local students through education. Thanks to your participation and contributions, we’re thrilled to announce that the proceeds from the evening will go toward awarding $1,500 scholarships to high school seniors in the spring of 2026, and will also support Academic Achievement Awards for middle school students.

A Night to Remember: Featured Performances That Lifted Our Spirits

The celebration was rich with artistic expression — performers of all ages took the stage with heart and purpose. Audiences were moved by music and movement that honored Dr. King’s message of justice, unity, and hope. Highlights included:

• Opening with “Lift Every Voice and Sing” — a soulful rendition of the Black national anthem that set a reflective and uplifting tone.
• The Friendship Baptist Church Praise Choir — whose voices resonated with emotion and community spirit.
• Joyful Expressions — bringing a burst of energy with soulful Motown classics like What’s Going On and Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now.
• Interpretive Dance and Youth Performances — reminding us of the power of art to inspire and unite.

Whether vocalists, instrumentalists, dancers, or spoken word artists, each performer contributed to an atmosphere of celebration and reflection — echoing the dream of equality and opportunity for all.

Why This Celebration Matters

The Third Annual MLK Celebration isn’t just an event — it’s a community movement that:

• Honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of peace, justice, and equality.
• Raises vital scholarship funds to support the next generation of leaders.
• Encourages young talent through academic and artistic recognition.

Thanks to your generous support, we’re proud to help future scholars on their educational journey and encourage middle school students to excel academically.

Looking Ahead

We can’t wait to share updates on the Charlotte King Scholarship recipients in spring 2026! Stay tuned for stories of the young leaders whose futures have been shaped — in part — by this community’s generosity. Your involvement truly makes a difference.

Once again, thank you to everyone who came together to honor Dr. King’s legacy, celebrate creative expression, and help open doors for students in our community.

Please click here to view the photo gallery.

Details of some of the performances

Gwendolyn Miller Founder of Addressing Racial Aggressions

Gwen is a vocalist and advocate who bridges the gap between art and activism. Gwen performed the Black National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing.

Charlotte King  Founder and Chair of The Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice.

She is a 2025 Delaware Hall of Fame honoree. Since founding the Alliance in 2015 she has transformed it into a powerhouse for systemic reform.

Charlotte urged people to continue the work of Dr. King especially in this time of turmoil.

The ALLIANCE singers of CAMP Rehoboth Chorus, led by Musical and Artistic Director, Doug Yetter.

A select group of skilled choral singers chosen for their outstanding sound and musicianship.

They performed “The Greatest Love of All” and “Hymn to Freedom.”

Laurel Delaware Councilwoman RogJenea Fisher

A Delaware State University alumna and lifelong performance artist, she founded the first dance troupe at Laurel High School. Guided by an ethic of service, she uses liturgical dance to inspire others and to give back to her community. RogJenea gave a stirring tribute to civil rights leader Rosa Parks.

The Milford High School Chamber Choir

Directed and Accompanied by Julie Keefer

This elite group of singers is formed from an auditioned ensemble of students.

Renowned for their performances at the State Capitol and across the region, they honored the audience with stirring performances “Dream the World and up to the Mountain. Soloist Juliene Combs moved the audience with her stunning performance.

Reverend John Moore

The Senior Pastor of the Dover Christian Church, is an internationally known motivational speaker. He was selected to recite, “I Have A Dream” at the dedication of the MLK Memorial Washington D.C. .He mesmerized the audience with his rendition of “I Have A Dream.”

Singing and Praying Bands of Maryland and Delaware

The audience was treated to a rare African-American tradition rooted in the secret worship of enslaved people who met in the Chesapeake Tidewater region, Singing and Praying Bands of Maryland and Delaware. They reminded us of how important it is to preserve and honor the history of those who came before us.

Ayreonna Hudson

Ayreonna Hudson is one of last year’s Charlotte King Scholarship recipients. Now she’s a freshman at Delaware State University majoring in Mass Communication. Ayreonna talked to the audience about the life and work of one of the unsung heroes of the civil rights movement, Ella Baker.

Chris Miller

Chris is a 10^th grader at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes. Chris told us about the life and work of renowned civil rights leader John Lewes.

Keynote speaker, Paul Williams of WRDE

Paul Williams wrapped up the evening with a powerful speech about the importance of mentoring an protecting our youth. He said our future depended on working with young people who will pick up the torch and led the movement for freedom in the future.