By Lookout Staff

January 16, 2025 -- One of Southern California's largest and most diverse Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrations will mark its 40th anniversary in Santa Monica Monday morning.

Presented by Santa Monica College (SMC) and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Westside Coalition, the free event will take place at 11 a.m. in the John Adams Middle School (JAMS) Performing Arts Center, 2425 16th Street.

This year's theme is “Celebrating Women of the Civil Rights Movement: Let’s Make Real the Promise of Liberty and Justice for All,” event organizers said.
The keynote speaker will be Sonya Young Aadam, CEO of the California Black Women’s Health Project, "a nonprofit whose mission is consistent with Dr. King’s legacy," organizers said.The multi-ethnic, interfaith program will include inspirational remarks, guest speakers, a musical performance and a dance performance.

The program also features the presentation of education awards to local high school students and a Community Light Award.

After the program, a Community Involvement Fair starting at 12:30 p.m. will present informational displays by a variety of community organizations. Light refreshments will be available.

Keynote speaker Aadam brings decades of corporate experience in strategic planning, financial analysis and management to her work over the past decade "supporting transformative intervention in underserved, urban communities," particularly in South Los Angeles.

Aadam also brings "a deep passion for the overall health and uplifting of Black women and families, which is driven by her upbringing as a woman of faith, committed to education, and the heartfelt sentiment that ". . . we lift as we climb.”

In 2023, the NAACP Image Awards honored Aadam as an “Unsung Hero” because of her work leading the Health Project’s pursuit of health equity for the state’s 1.2 million Black women and girls.

Event sponsors include the City of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College Associates, Santa Monica College, SGI-USA, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica Travel and Tourism, Santa Monica Bay Area Human Relations Council, and various other organizations and individuals.

Other special events honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. include the MLK Freedom Celebration and Breakfast (which has been relocated to Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Boulevard) and the Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Concert in Santa Monica High School's Barnham Hall.

More information on Monday's celebration and related special events is available at mlkjrwestside.org