Collaborating community organizations will host Springfield’s annual citywide Dr. King Day Celebration on Monday, January 16, 2023 from 11:00am to 1:00pm. Held in person at the MassMutual Center, the event is hosted by Martin Luther King Jr Family Services, Community Music School of Springfield, Inclusive Strategies LLC, Springfield College and Focus Springfield, Legacy Sounds, Springfield Cultural Partnership, Focus Springfield, Urban League of Springfield, and Springfield Public Schools. The livestream event can be watched on the home page of Community Music School of Springfield and Focus Springfield’s websites.

This year’s theme is Chasing the Dream, Arriving Together, and Standing in the Light, and will engage hundreds of youth, community leaders, and artists with spoken word, dance, and music to reflect on the enduring legacy of Dr. King and the continued struggle for social justice in communities across the country. Performances include the Springfield CommUnity Chorale led by Vanessa Ford; an orchestral performance by the MLK Day Festival Orchestra, led by Marty Knieriem; CMSS Sonido Musica students performing original compositions; and a Community Unity Art Expo led by the Springfield Cultural Partnership. Local artist Sheldon Smith will unveil a 2023 artistic expression of Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.