MLK Day 2023: It Takes A Village

MLK Day 2023: It Takes A Village

Monday, January 16, 2023 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Harvey B. Gantt Center
551 South Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

Tickets: Free 

The Harvey B. Gantt Center’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration is inspired by their exhibition, Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth, in partnership with Levine Museum of the New South.

The two institutions come together to celebrate the legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for this day-long event collaborating with local and regional artists, historians, and organizations to uplift the power of collective voice and action.

MLK Day 2023 Program Schedule: 

Children’s Book Storytime with Braxton Winston (2nd-floor lobby)
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Our Friend, Martin (Performance Suite, 2nd floor)
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Our Friend Martin is an animated, feature-length film that features two sixth-grade boys who are transported back to the time of civil rights leader Dr. King to learn about his life and that time period.

Civil Rights Arts & Crafts Station (3rd-floor mezzanine)
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

An assortment of art activities that commemorate the Civil Rights era for the whole family.

The Talk: Children’s Book Author Reflections (4th floor)
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Talented children’s books authors and illustrators continue the work of Rev. Dr. King through stories that inform and uplift our youngest generation.

Empowerment Sounds with Arsena (2nd-floor lobby)
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Enjoy covers of iconic Civil Rights era music, along with original music from musical sensation Arsena.

MLK & Civil Rights Trivia (Performance Suite, 2nd floor)
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Enjoy rounds of trivia about the Civil Rights era that the entire family can enjoy.

NC Civil Rights Trail with the AAHC (4th floor)
12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Learn about iconic local civil rights movements in partnership with the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission (AAHC).

Breaking Ground: A Panel of Firsts (2nd-floor lobby)
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Moderated by CMS Foundation Executive Director, Sonja Gantt, this panel discussion will feature James Ferguson, II (co-founder of the first integrated law firm in North Carolina), Dorothy Counts-Scoggins (one of the first students to integrate public schools in Charlotte), and Ken Koontz (one of the first Black anchormen in Charlotte).

Charlotte’s Men of Change Exhibition: Meet the Artists (Performance Suite, 2nd-floor)
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

MLK Day will premiere Charlotte’s Men of Change pop-up exhibition. Meet the local artists commissioned to create brand new artwork inspired by some impactful Black men in Charlotte.

Community of Change Conversation (4th floor)
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Learn about the ways Black men in our local community are inspiring change, led by The Males Place founder, Reggie Singleton, and founder of Heal Charlotte, Greg Jackson.

Levine Museum Drop-In Art (401 S. Tryon St.)
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Enjoy crafts for all ages and view the Men of Change exhibition.

Community Drop-In Art with Ricky Singh (3rd-floor mezzanine)
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Let your creative side shine with a drop-in activity to celebrate Rev. Dr. King. An experience the entire family can enjoy, led by Ricky Singh (Charlotte Lab’s Upper School).

The Youth Revolution Soundtrack (2nd-floor lobby)

Youth will showcase a range of talents/performances to share how they are inspired to be champions of equity.

MLK: The Power of Words (Performance Suite, 2nd floor)
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Led by artist and community leader Jermaine Nakia Lee, participants will examine the ways in which powerful and passion-filled words can be used to communicate the concepts of freedom, justice, equality, and the American Dream.

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