Tri-C To Host 49th Annual Dr. King Day Celebration Jan. 18
Cleveland's longest-running MLK remembrance continues 49-year legacy
Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) will host an afternoon celebration of the annual birthday observance of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., continuing a tradition that began in 1977, six years before the federal government designated a day to honor King.
The 49th annual celebration takes place from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18, at the KeyBank State Theatre (1519 Euclid Ave.). The remembrance also features a soul-stirring musical performance by The Clark Sisters.
During the event, two Tri-C students will present essays that reflect on a quote from King's 1965 commencement address at Oberlin College: "The time is always right to do what is right." The two essayists are Salma Marzouk, a College Credit Plus student and high school sophomore, and Mona Pruitt, who is pursuing a Registered Nursing degree with 20 years of service at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
The event will also feature a performance by students from the Tri-C Creative Arts Academy Dance Collective and recognize eight Tri-C scholarship winners of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Scholarship Fund, established in 1987, and the Cleveland Teachers Union Endowed Scholarship Fund, established in 1995.
"Dr. King's legacy is a powerful reminder of the importance of education, equality and community," Tri-C President Michael A. Baston, J.D., Ed.D., said. "At Tri-C, we strive to embody these values every day, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive."
Tickets for the event are sold out, but a livestream will be available. For more information or to watch a livestream, visit the MLK Annual Birthday Observance web page.
January 05, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Anthony Moujaes, 216-987-3068 or anthony.moujaes@tri-c.edu