NC Martin Luther King Jr. Commission
NC Martin Luther King Jr. Commission
History of the Commission
The Commission works to encourage appropriate ceremonies and activities throughout the State relating to the observance of the legal holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. It also works to promote among the people of NC an awareness and appreciation of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The commission is governed by General Statute 143B-426.34A and General Statute 143B-426.34B.
Martin Luther King Jr. Letter from Birmingham City Jail Project
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested and jailed in Birmingham, Alabama on April 16, 1963, for participating in anti-segregation protests. During his stay, he wrote his famous Letter from Birmingham City Jail as a response to letters he had received from religious leaders indicating the protests were not appropriate at the time.
The NC Martin Luther King Jr. Commission honors the 60th anniversary of the writing of this letter, and the Commission recognizes the sense of urgency to eliminate racial inequities created by the letter is as present today as it was in 1963. The MLK Jr. Commission urges all North Carolinians to read/listen to Dr. King’s Letter from Birmingham City Jail, consider its relevance in today’s world, and take action to eliminate racial inequities across the state of North Carolina.
| 2023 Letter from Birmingham City Jail Local Events | ||
|---|---|---|
| NC Freedom Park: Celebrating Freedom & the African American Experience March 28, 2023 from 7-8:30 p.m. Freedom Park Celebration Event |
The Community Remembrance Coalition- Chatham & the Chatham County NAACP Branches April 16, 2023 at 5 p.m. Pastors Reading the Letter from Birmingham Jail |
Town of Chapel Hill & The Chapel Hill Library- Letter from Birmingham Jail 60th Anniversary April 16, 2023 from 3-5:30 p.m. Historian Dr. William Sturkey to Offer History & Reflections on Dr. King's Letter |
2023 NC State Employees Annual MLK Observance Program
The 2023 Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance Program was held Friday Jan. 13, 2023 at 11:45 a.m., in person at First Baptist Church (99 North Salisbury St.) View the embedded video to watch a recording.
The theme for this year’s event was derived from one of Dr. King’s most notable quotes:
“We must come to see that the end we seek is a society at peace with itself, a society that can live with its conscience.”
Livin' the Dream Initiative Grants
Through this project, the MLK Jr. Commission seeks to increase the capacity and impact of BIPOC-ed and/or grassroots organizations in North Carolina working to advance the vision of Dr. King.
Up to five $5,000 grants will be awarded to assist these organizations.
The 2022-23 application period is closed.
About the Commission
The Commission consists of 16 members. Membership includes:
- 12 Governor appointees, including the chair
- Two appointees by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate
- Two appointees by the Speaker of the House of Representative
Meeting Information
| 2023 Meeting Dates |
|---|
| Jan. 25, 2023 at 3 p.m. |
| March 29, 2023 at 3 p.m. |
| April 26, 2023 at 3 p.m. |
| May 24, 2023 at 3 p.m. |
| June 28, 2023 at 3 p.m. |
For meeting minutes, email Jordan Hanna jordan.hanna@doa.nc.gov
Want to Serve? Find Your Fit!
Members of the public interested in joining one of the over 300 North Carolina boards and commissions can apply for Governor appointment online. If interested in joining a DOA board or commission, you can also reach out to jordan.hanna@doa.nc.gov for more information and to be considered when there are open positions.
2023 Commission Members
| Member Name | City | County | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hon. Edwin E. Booth | Washington | Beaufort | Governor |
| Demetrius Deloatch | Conway | Northhampton | Governor |
| Lucy H.F. Dinner | Raleigh | Wake | Governor |
| Dr. Rodney E. Harris (Chair) | Youngsville | Franklin | Governor |
| Jamilla Hawkins | Tarboro | Edgecombe | Governor |
| Stan K. Holt | Durham | Durham | Governor |
| Verlina P. Lomick | Gastonia | Cleveland | Senate Pro Tem |
| Dr. Allison Mathews | Winston-Salem | Forsyth | Governor |
| Kiana Rivers | Durham | Pasquotank | Governor |
| Walter Rogers | Laurel Hill | Scotland | Governor |
| Rebecca Trammel | Wilmington | New Hanover | Governor |
| James Williams, Jr. | Carrboro | Orange | Governor |