CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (Chambana Today) — As Martin Luther King Jr. Day approaches, leaders in Champaign County are inviting the community to move beyond reflection and into action with the 25th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Countywide Celebration.
The free, public event will take place Sunday, Jan. 18, at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana, bringing together residents, local governments, and educational institutions to honor Dr. King’s legacy through music, awards, and a call to unity.
“This is one of the biggest celebrations in our community every year,” said Mikal Washington of the City of Champaign’s Equity and Engagement Department. “It’s a celebration of the work being done to promote equity, inclusivity, and justice, and it reminds us that this work must continue.”
The celebration is a joint effort of the cities of Champaign and Urbana, the Village of Rantoul, the University of Illinois, and Parkland College. Doors open at 4 p.m., with the program beginning at 5 p.m.
The evening will feature musical performances, including a choir, and the reading of a proclamation declaring Jan. 12–18 as the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Week of Advocacy, Unity, and Justice. Leaders from participating institutions will take part in the proclamation.
A highlight of the event is the recognition of three community members whose work reflects Dr. King’s values. This year’s honorees include Dr. Jeffrey Trask, recipient of the James R. Burgess, Jr./Susan Freiberg Humanitarian Award; Dr. Stephanie Cockrell, recipient of the Doris Hoskins Prestigious Community Service Award; and Martel Miller, recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Outstanding Achievement Award.
“These awards are given to individuals who have exemplified extraordinary efforts in carrying on Dr. King’s message,” Washington said. “We want them to know their work is seen, valued, and appreciated.”
Hear the entire interview with Callie Luttman and Mikal Washington: FOCUS – City of Champaign – MLK Jr. Day County Wide Celebration 2026 by Illini Media Group
State Rep. Carol Ammons will serve as the keynote speaker, offering remarks on leadership, service, and community engagement.
The celebration continues Monday morning with the annual Unity Breakfast at Vineyard Church in Urbana, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The breakfast, also free and open to the public, will spotlight recipients of the Living the Dream Scholarship.
Each year, the scholarship program awards 15 to 20 local students $1,000, renewable for up to four years, with some colleges matching the contribution. Students are selected through an application process that includes recommendations and academic requirements.
“Our future is the most important thing in our community,” Washington said. “This scholarship helps ease the financial burden of college and prepares students for what comes next, whether that’s higher education or their careers.”
For Washington, who has worked with the celebration for three years, the event’s greatest impact lies in its sense of togetherness.
“All races, all ages, all ethnicities come together,” he said. “That message of unity is what I hope people leave with — the understanding that when we stick together and pour into our community, it comes back tenfold.”
