The state of Missouri celebrated a milestone rooted in a dream Friday afternoon inside the Coronado Ballroom. That dream was inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but it belonged to the late Norman Seay. Because of the legendary local activist, St. Louis is credited as one of the first cities in the nation to formally commemorate King’s life and legacy.
The MLK Holiday Committee Seay organized in 1970 eventually became the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. State Celebration Commission of Missouri in 1986—the same year the third Monday in January was designated as a federal holiday honoring Dr. King.
Commissioners and supporters from across the region gathered to launch programming that will stretch from St. Louis to the Bootheel. The 40th anniversary luncheon, typically held on the campus of Harris-Stowe State University, took on a different atmosphere this year but maintained the familiar spirit of reflection and purpose.
“This statewide celebration has served as a powerful reminder that Dr. King’s dream is not confined to history,” said Harris-Stowe President Latonia Collins Smith. “It is a living call to action.”
This year’s theme—“Honoring the Dream: 40 Years of Reflection, Resilience and Renewal”—was echoed by Collins Smith, mistress of ceremonies Carol Daniel, and keynote speaker Rev. Christopher L. Rogers Sr., senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Chesterfield.
“[It is] a call that challenges us to reflect honestly, to remain resilient in the face of injustice,” Collins Smith said. “And to renew our collective commitment to equity, service and beloved community.”
In addition to Rogers’ keynote, awards were presented to individuals and organizations across Missouri who embody King’s relentless pursuit of a more equitable nation and world.
Photo by Cedric Scott Photography
“Today, we honor the visionary leaders, students, educators, faith communities and everyday citizens who have kept that dream alive,” Collins Smith said. “Not just through words, but through action.”
St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page spoke on behalf of the region’s elected officials and did not mince words regarding the current presidential administration’s efforts to dismantle progress made during the Civil Rights Movement.
“The aggressive work of this White House—erasing DEI programs, erasing voting rights, erasing access to education, erasing access to healthcare,” Page said. “And we know who this hurts the most, and it’s not people who look like me.”
He urged attendees to remain vigilant.
“This is not the America we love. This is not the America that gives everyone access to opportunity,” Page said. “As we celebrate these 40 years, let us recommit ourselves to the work—ensuring that reflection leads to action, resilience fuels progress, and renewal brings us closer to Dr. King’s dream.”
Despite the uncertainty of the moment, Page said he remains hopeful.
“You see people standing up now and saying no,” he said. “We see the midterms on the horizon. We see hope in our allies around the world who are pushing back. We can’t let up. Everyone knows what’s at stake. One of my favorite quotes by Dr. King is, ‘The time is always right to do what is right.’ So let’s demand that from Washington. Let’s demand that from Jefferson City.”
Following musical selections from The All Purpose Band—whose renditions of gospel classics by The Clark Sisters, Richard Smallwood and Kurt Carr sparked a full praise break—Pastor Rogers delivered his keynote address.
“Forty years is more than a milestone,” Rogers said. “It is a moment of moral accounting. These three words—reflection, resilience and renewal—are not just ceremonial language. They are a roadmap. They tell us where we’ve been, how to endure and what is required of us.”
He reflected on the origins of the statewide celebration.
“This kickoff program was born in a Missouri—and in an America—still grappling with the unfinished business of justice,” Rogers said. “Doors were opened, but access remained uneven. Reflection compels us to say we have made progress, but we have not arrived.”
That memory, he said, fuels resilience.
“Resilience is what sustained people when justice was delayed and dignity was denied,” he said. “It is the quiet determination that refused to surrender when progress felt slow. Resilience does not mean accepting injustice. It means refusing to normalize it. Our ancestors were resilient not because suffering was noble, but because freedom was necessary.”
Rogers emphasized that renewal requires imagination and courage.
“Renewal insists that democracy remains an unfinished work,” he said. “If we think the work is finished, we may want to pack and go home.”
He reminded the audience that the honoring of Dr. King requires more than ceremony.
“We honor the dream when civic participation is protected, when education is equitable, when housing and public safety reflect dignity rather than fear, and when budgets align with values,” Rogers said. “Dr. King didn’t merely inspire—he organized. He didn’t merely challenge—he built coalitions. He didn’t merely dream—he acted. We must do the same.”
Rogers highlighted Missourians who acted in the name of justice, including Dred and Harriet Scott, just before the program transitioned to the acknowledgement of the 2026 award recipients. Along with Rogers himself, honorees included title sponsor MOHELA, The People’s Response 2025, Ms. Catina R. Shannon, Pastor Robert and Kathy Bell, James and Annelle Whitt, Mr. Carlos Nelson, Ashley Young and Legacy Jackson.
“As we embark on a new year, let us collectively commit once again to preserving and acting out Dr. King’s dream in our everyday lives,” Daniel said.