City of Statesville Proclaims January 18 - 19, 2026 as Martin Luther King Jr Day

City of Statesville, North Carolina

Office of the Mayor

Proclamation

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

31st Annual MLK Community Prayer Breakfast and Day of Service

January 18 - 19, 2026

WHEREAS, the Statesville Martin Luther King, Jr. Planning Committee is dedicated to educating, encouraging, and inspiring the community to help make Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream of equality, justice, and unity a reality; and

WHEREAS, the Committee works throughout the year in collaboration with community agencies, organizations, and individuals to foster understanding, service, and civic engagement while honoring the enduring legacy of Dr. King; and

WHEREAS, the weekend of January 18–19, 2026, marks the 31st year of events commemorating the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., beginning with a Day of Service on Sunday, January 18, 2026, and culminating in the Annual Community Prayer Breakfast on Monday, January 19, 2026; and

WHEREAS, the Day of Service will include an MLK Choir Concert at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at Landmark Church of God, under the leadership of Bishop Phil Pearson, providing an opportunity for reflection, worship, and unity; and

WHEREAS, the Annual Community Prayer Breakfast will be held on Monday, January 19, 2026, at the Statesville Event Center, featuring the theme “I Can Make a Difference” and keynote speaker Minister Christopher Thomas, bringing the community together in faith, inspiration, and shared purpose; and

WHEREAS, these events unite people from all walks of life to honor Dr. King’s vision of service, equality, and collective responsibility, while encouraging individuals to reflect on their own ability to positively impact their community; and

WHEREAS, the City of Statesville recognizes the profound contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to civil rights and social justice and supports the ongoing efforts of the Statesville Martin Luther King, Jr. Planning Committee to ensure his legacy continues to inspire future generations.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Doug Hendrix, Mayor of the City of Statesville, do hereby proclaim January 18–19, 2026, as a time of remembrance, service, and unity in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and call upon all citizens of Statesville to participate in the Day of Service, the Annual Community Prayer Breakfast, and related events, and to recommit themselves to making a difference by upholding the principles of equality, service, and unity that Dr. King so passionately championed.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have set my Hand and caused the Great Seal of the City of Statesville to be affixed this 19th day of January 2026.

J. Douglas Hendrix, Mayor

View the proclamation from the City of Statesville here