JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The City of Jacksonville and its partners are hosting the 38th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast on Jan. 17 at 7 a.m. at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center.
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This year’s program will feature a keynote address by Jonathan Eig, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “King: A Life.”
Eig will have a fireside chat with Isaiah M. Oliver, President of the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.
The 125th anniversary of Lift Every Voice and Sing, a hymn deeply rooted in Jacksonville history, will be commemorated.
Rodney L. Hurst, a historian and civil rights activist talked about the event.
“The intent is to bring together an effort where Jacksonville can recognize around the holiday, named for Dr. King, his work, what he stood for, the efforts that he gave his life for in this country, for Black human dignity and respect,” Hurst said.
Hurst said the breakfast is important for the city.
“The City of Jacksonville has not been fair in its recognizing the equality of Black folk, not only in this city and state, but in this country,” Hurst said. “Any effort that’s designed to allow me an opportunity to represent who I am, I think is important, and it helps that process.”
In 2019, the city and local organizations held separate celebrations on the same day. Mayor Donna Deegan brought the groups back together in 2024.
Hurst talked about the message that’s sent with the groups coming back together.
“It says that it’s not easy, but if Black folk and white folk are committed to doing something for Black human dignity and respect, as opposed to Black culture and white culture clashing all the time...it helps us move forward in getting some things accomplished in a city like Jacksonville,” Hurst said.
Local students who embody King’s service, leadership, and principles will be honored. Students submitted essays, poetry, and visual arts submissions inspired by King’s quote, “We must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future.”
The winners and runners-up are listed below:
High School - Poetry
- 1st Place Winner: Kynlei Gibbs - 9th Grade - Riverside High School
- 1st Runner Up: Juriyah Gilmore - Grade 9 - Riverside High School
- 2nd Runner Up: Zohli Harris - Grade 9 - Riverside High School
Middle School - Visual Arts
- 1st Place Winner: Diego Muñoz - Grade 7 - Westview K-8
- 1st Runner Up: Delilah Meza - Grade 7 - Landmark Middle School
- 2nd Runner Up: Amari Saint-Vil - Grade 8 - Matthew W. Gilbert Middle School
Elementary School - Essay
- 1st Place Winner: Tyson Jones - Grade 5 - Biscayne Elementary Leadership Academy
- 1st Runner Up: Millionaire Paige - Grade - Andrew A. Robinson Elementary
- 2nd Runner Up: Skye Stuckey - Grade 5 - Biscayne Elementary Academy
Tickets can be purchased at JaxMLKBreakfast.com. Reserved tables for 10 must be purchased by Jan. 10.
Individual tickets can be purchased up to the event or until they are sold out.
Tickets are $70, with corporate tables at $700. Parking is free but attendees are encouraged to arrive early.