Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Monday, January 19th, 2026, 2:00pm
The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation, in collaboration with the Gloucester Racial Justice Team, will present a program to explore the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The goal is to use our history to guide us in light of today’s social, economic, and political challenges. The featured speaker will be Professor Jamie Wilson, historian from Salem State University and author of a book about Dr. King. The free program will take place on Monday, January 19 at 2:00 p.m. in the historic Gloucester Meetinghouse, home of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, on the green at 50 Middle Street.
Professor Wilson is the author of Martin Luther King. Jr.: A Life in American History. New York: Bloomsbury, 2023. He will discuss the obstacles faced by Dr. King and the struggle for racial equality in both the north and the south after the landmark Supreme Court decisions that banned segregated schools but left many discriminatory practices intact across many industries such as housing and employment.
EVENT DESCRIPTION
All are invited to the UU Church Social Hall (downstairs) where Professor Wilson will speak, followed by a video excerpt from a 1967 interview of MLK, Jr. by Sander Vanocur of NBC News. Participants will then be divided into discussion groups led by trained facilitators. Each group will tackle issues that are relevant to the struggles for human dignity and security that Reverend King championed. Parking is available on the green in front of the Meetinghouse. Please enter the Social Hall via the side door at #10 Church Street or the side door from the Gould Court parking area. Light refreshments will be served.
Organizers of this event include Jerry Ackerman and Karen N. Bell, co-chairs of the Gloucester Meetinghouse Events Committee, and Michea McCaffrey, Chair of the Gloucester Racial Justice Team. A special sponsor of the event is the Beverly & Addison Gilbert Hospitals, a member of Beth Israel Lahey Health. This annual MLK Day program in Gloucester is part of the Meetinghouse Tenth Anniversary series.
Thank You, Sponsors!
Palladium Tier
H. Woody Brock, Scobie Ward
Platinum Tier
John & Janis Bell, J.J. & Jacquelyn Bell, Karen Neva Bell
Gold Tier
Jerry Ackerman, BOMCO, Peter Calkins & Susan Casey, Cape Ann Savings Bank, Linzee Coolidge, William & Joshua Taylor — Coastal Music
Silver Tier
Dick Gardner & Frederick Cowan, Thomas & Patricia Cronin, Jonathan Golding &Sally Bradley-Golding, Mern Sibley & Roger Garberg, Beth Graham & William Schulz, Joeann Hart & Gordon Baird, Charles Nazarian, Dick Prouty
Bronze Tier
Andy & Peggy Calkins, Carl & Judith Gustin, Patricia Johnson & Jeff Henderson, Robert T. Lutts, Sandra Ronan, Holly Tanguay
Parking Info
The Green is now open for event parking. After 6, parking in downtown Gloucester is free and there are several lots nearby. When parking in and around the area, please make sure not to block our neighbor’s driveways.
Don’t forget!
We would love to have you join us for this event! If you would like to add a reminder to your personal calendar, select which calendar service you use from the dropdown below.
The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation, in collaboration with the Gloucester Racial Justice Team, will present a program to explore the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The goal is to use our history to guide us in light of today’s social, economic, and political challenges. The featured speaker will be Professor Jamie Wilson, historian from Salem State University and author of a book about Dr. King. The free program will take place on Monday, January 19 at 2:00 p.m. in the historic Gloucester Meetinghouse, home of the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, on the green at 50 Middle Street.
History at Salem State UniversityProfessor Jamie Wilson discusses history at Salem State University.
MLK Talks 'New Phase' Of Civil Rights Struggle, 11 Months Before His Assassination | NBC NewsIn 1967, at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King spoke with NBC News' Sander Vanocur about the "new phase" of the struggle for "genuine equality." » Subscribe to NBC News: http://nbcnews.to/SubscribeToNBC » Watch more NBC video: http://bit.ly/MoreNBCNews NBC News is a leading source of global news and information. Here you will find clips from NBC Nightly News, Meet The Press, and original digital videos. Subscribe to our channel for news stories, technology, politics, health, entertainment, science, business, and exclusive NBC investigations. Connect with NBC News Online! Visit NBCNews.Com: http://nbcnews.to/ReadNBC Find NBC News on Facebook: http://nbcnews.to/LikeNBC Follow NBC News on Twitter: http://nbcnews.to/FollowNBC Follow NBC News on Google+: http://nbcnews.to/PlusNBC Follow NBC News on Instagram: http://nbcnews.to/InstaNBC Follow NBC News on Pinterest: http://nbcnews.to/PinNBC MLK Talks 'New Phase' Of Civil Rights Struggle, 11 Months Before His Assassination | NBC News
Location
Address:
Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church
10 Church Street, Gloucester, MA 01930
