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Numerous local events will be happening this weekend to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. culminating in several events happening on Monday.

The City of Selma will have a wreath-laying ceremony on Monday while Selma Links is hosting prayer breakfast prior to that. Also, the Black Belt Community Foundation and Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) will also  have several MLK2025 events.

Here is a look at what’s going on:

Selma Links

The Selma Chapter of The Links, Inc. organization is hosting its 32nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 20.

The breakfast event will be held at Wallace Community College Gymnasium Selma, starting at 9 a.m. to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr. and his efforts to bring forth change in the Black Belt including fostering unity and community engagement within the celebratory event.

Under the theme “Unifying and Leading at Every Level for 30 years and Beyond,” this special event honors Dr. King, while raising funds for scholarships, celebrating the LINKS chapter’s impressive legacy of over 30 years of community service and introduces the impactful Back K.A.R.E. (Kidney Awareness Resources and Education) Initiative.

The keynote speaker for this year’s event is Vanessa Falls, who is the Southern Area Director of The Links, Inc. The event is free to the public and all members of the community are encouraged to attend.

Stop the Violence Rally and March

The 25th annual Stop the Violence Rally and March is shaping up to attract some big names for the event, which commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and promotes an end to violence in the community. The event, which is sponsored by the Safe Haven Center, is featuring Silky Slim Reed, a rapper, producer, filmmaker, etc. from New Orleans who also has an organization called Stop The Killing, Inc. Miss Tanehsa Purifoy, an influencer and content producer from Dallas County, is also scheduled to make an appearance. The event begins at noon with a march from Brown Chapel Church to the Songs of Selma park at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The rally will be held at the Songs of Selma Park and continue until 2 p.m. For more information about the event, please contact Bowen at 334-505-1723.

City of Selma

The City of Selma invites the community to attend its wreath-laying ceremony at Selma City Hall 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

City Hall is located at 222 Broad Street.

BBCF and TRTH

BBCF and TRTH will have events lasting from the Dream to Action series of events along with the following day’s annual observance of the National Day of Racial Healing (NDORH). These events honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through opportunities for learning, service, and community transformation and continue with the ninth year of consecutive observance of the NDORH. Community is encouraged to join in and participate in these impactful events.

On Saturday, Jan. 18, there will be Virtual Racial Equity Training Time at 11 a.m. online. Registration required at https://bit.ly/JANRET. This virtual session will provide participants with a blend of historical insight, practical tools, and strategies for advancing racial equity. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen understanding and commitment to social change.

Monday, Jan. 20, there will be Community Service and Art and the #PassAlongTheLove Clothing Giveaway Time at  11 a.m. at Bosco Nutrition Center, 1107-B Griffin Street.

Come together to share love and support with those in need. Clothing for men, women, and children will be available.

Also at 11 a.m. is the “Windows of Hope” Community Art Project at the 1100 Block of Griffin Street. The community is encouraged and welcome to join for a heartwarming art project designed to beautify vulnerable properties and neighborhoods. Be part of this transformative initiative that brings art and hope to the Selma community.

Then at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 21, the National Day of Racial Healing service will be at the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth, and Reconciliation, 8 Mulberry Road.

This event will spotlight ongoing collaborative efforts across the city to foster healing and community prosperity. Partners and community members will gather to reflect, strategize, and continue the journey toward equity and reconciliation. Attendees will also get a chance to preview the community healing space on the ground floor of the Selma Center. Refreshments will be served.

These events are made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Black Belt Community Foundation, the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth, and Reconciliation, along with local partners such as the Edmundite Missions, Selma City Schools, the Selma-Dallas County Children’s Policy Alliance and others committed to building a brighter future for Selma and beyond. TRHT Selma is a programmatic partnership supported through a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

For more information or to get involved, contact: D.K. Harris, BBCF Public Relations Director at dharris@blackbeltfound.org or call (334) 526-4539 or email lchatmon@blackbeltfound.org