Human Rights Commission

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93 Highland Ave.
Somerville, MA 02143
United States

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We're celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King's life and legacy together at the City's annual MLK Day event on January 17! Organized in collaboration with Somerville Parks and Recreation, the Somerville Public Schools Office of Equity and Excellence, Teen Empowerment, and The Dojo @ Somernova, the event is designed for all ages and will include youth and adult speakers, artistic performances, community tabling, and more.

MLK Day Event Details

Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
Time: 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Location: Somerville High School (SHS), 81 Highland Ave
- Rain date: Sunday, January 18, 2026 from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Somerville High School

The event will take place at SHS. Attendees will be invited to enjoy arts and crafts for all ages, youth performances including speeches, poetry, and music, and a keynote address delivered by Dr. James “Jimmy” McCarty focused on the life and legacy of Dr. King. There will be food and refreshments during the event. Community members are encouraged to RSVP at bit.ly/MLK_2026.

MLK Youth Essay Contest

Sponsored by the Human Rights Commission (HRC), high school youth from the City are being invited to participate in the MLK Youth Essay Contest. Students will have the opportunity to write a 250-word essay about the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They will be asked to respond to one of the pre-selected prompts. Two winners will be selected by the HRC and announced at the City of Somerville’s MLK Day Event. Winners will receive free tuition for an online human rights course that will offer professional development opportunities for future opportunities, such as college applications, jobs, etc.

More information about the essay contest is available online.

Submission link