MLK2023 Press Announcement

MLK2023 CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM, JUSTICE, AND BELOVED COMMUNITY
January 13, 6:00pm
Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

The MLK Celebration of Freedom, Justice, and Beloved Community will be held live at the City’s storied War Memorial Herbst Theatre.

Recording artist Emily King headlines the program, joined by vocalist Goapele, San Francisco Poet Laureate Tongo Eisen-Martin and Minister Marvin White of Glide with spoken word performances, the gospel luminaries of Glide Ensemble, and soul singers Sangin’ Sara & James P. Smith.

This event requires paid entry. Purchase tickets at cityboxoffice.com.

KING & FAITH SERIES
January 14 – 16

2023 marks the eighth year of the King & Faith Series.

This annual lecture series is part of our goal of engaging the wider scholarly, theological, clerical and lay communities in contemporary contemplation of Dr. King, his message, and his legacy.

The series features events in partnership with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University, Stanford University’s Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, The Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples, The Episcopal Diocese of California, Grace Cathedral, The Tabernacle Community Development Corporation, The Center for Islamic Studies at the Graduate Theological Union, and many more.

BLACK & BROWN COMIX ARTS FESTIVAL
January 15 – 16

The 2023 Black & Brown Comix Arts Festival (BCAF2023) marks the ninth year of the nationally awarded comic book event highlighting artists and creators of color. BCAF is a partnership of the NorcalMLK Foundation and the San Francisco Public Library.

On Sunday, January 15, BCAF panels bring New York Times bestselling creators to the stage, and the evening brings our BCAF reception to the Cartoon Art Museum.

Monday, January 16, BCAF Expo features a limited return to our comic book expo for all ages at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, beginning at 11:00am.

MLK2023 LABOR & COMMUNITY BREAKFAST
January 16, 8:00am
InterContinental San Francisco, 888 Howard Street

The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Labor & Community Breakfast brings labor, government, and the community together to honor the legacy of the civil rights connection between labor, led by A. Philip Randolph, the African American community, and the poor.

The event features federal, state, and local leaders in government, musical talent of the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble, and the presentation of the NorcalMLK Foundation's signal award, The Willie B Kennedy Civic Service Award to The Honorable Nancy Pelosi (CA-12), the 52nd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

As the first event on MLK Day, the Labor & Community Breakfast launches a host of activities honoring King that occur at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Gardens.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Labor & Community Breakfast is a partnership between the San Francisco Labor Council and the NorcalMLK Foundation.

MLK2023 MARCH
SF Caltrain Station
January 17, 11:00am
4th Street@Townsend

Join thousands in honoring the Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery, Alabama marches and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by experiencing the MLK2023 commemorative march/parade from San Francisco's Caltrain Station to Yerba Buena Gardens. The march begins at 11:00am on Monday, January 16, and participants are encouraged to arrive early. The 1.5 mile journey crosses the Lefty O'Doul Bridge and stops at Willie Mays Plaza at AT&T Park to commemorate the crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, a symbol of violence and victory in the civil rights movement.

Groups can register and march together at the MLK2023 March Eventbrite page.

At the conclusion of the march, in partnership with the San Francisco Interfaith Council, an interfaith commemoration will bring together the region’s faith leaders to commemorate the vision of Dr. King and to lead participants in a spiritual reflection of his message.

MLK2023 CELEBRATION PROGRAM
January 16, 1:00pm
Blue Shield of California Theater @ YBCA
700 Howard Street

The MLK2023 Celebration Program features a presentation by leaders on the state’s historic reparations legislation.

The program includes performances by San Francisco’s Poet Laureate Tongo Eisen-Martin.

MLK2023 MUSIC FESTIVAL
January 16, 1:00pm
Esplanade Stage at Yerba Buena Gardens

Enjoy the 13th Annual MLK Music Festival presented by Purple Cherry Productions and Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.

The MLK2023 Music Festival features multi-Grammy Award Winning artist Tony Lindsay (formerly of Santana), RyanNicole, spoken word from San Francisco Poet Laureate Tongo Eisen-Martin, and the comedy of Tony Sco.

Hosts of the local hit show "I Remember That Song!" will bring Yerba Buena Gardens to life, while emceeing the performances.

MLK2023 HEALTH & WELLNESS FESTIVAL
JANUARY 16, 11:00am
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum
701 Mission Street

The MLK2023 Health and Wellness Festival gathers the region’s health providers for a one-day event of free services and exciting activities during the MLK celebration. COVID testing is also scheduled to be available during the MLK events.

MLK2023 LIBERATION FILM SCREENINGS
January 16, 12:00pm
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

The Liberation Film Festival (LFF) are dedicated to bringing short-format cinema and human-interest documentaries to the public through innovative programs designed to engage new and diverse audiences. 2023 marks the thirteenth annual program and will feature human interest and civil rights documentaries and, for the first time, animated shows. A partnership with California Newsreel, the screenings are free and open to the public with limited theater seating on a first-come, first-served, basis.

LFF scheduled screenings will be presented in the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Screening Room and YBCA’s Blue Shield of California Theater.

MLK2023 COMMEMORATIVE TRANSIT
January 16

NorcalMLK partners with local and regional transit agencies to provide commemorative travel to and from our events on the MLK federal holiday. The NorcalMLK Transit Program returns with the MLK2023 NorcalMLK Caltrain Celebration Train. Reservations will be available soon at your tickets today at the MLK2023 Caltrain Celebration Train site.

Stay tuned for updates on more transit partnership.

MLK VOLUNTEERING

Sign up to serve through NorcalMLK.

NorcalMLK has volunteer opportunities throughout the year, and we're a great place for service. Let us know your areas of focus, availability and any other information you wish to provide, and we will keep you informed of the NorcalMLK volunteer opportunities that fit your criteria.

MLK2023 MEDIA ARTWORK AND PRESS PRESS FOLDER

Find the latest media and press releases, and MLK2023 artwork here.

Make NorcalMLK your app for the events. Simply add our website to the Home Screen of your mobile device, and voilá.