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Receipt and Filing of a Report Recapping the Martin Luther King Jr. 2026 Celebration Event.
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Meeting Date: September 30, 2026
Contact Person/Dept: Daniella Gutierrez/RCS Supervisor
Phone Number: (310) 253-6685
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: []
Public Notification: (E-mail) Meetings and Agendas - MLK Celebration and Juneteenth Advisory Committee(9/24/2026); (E-mail) Parks, Recreation & Community Service Department Updates (9/24/2026)
Department Approval: Tomás Herrera-Mishler PRCS Director (9/24/2026)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and Juneteenth Celebration Advisory Committee receive and file the report recapping the Martin Luther King Jr. 2026 Celebration Event.
BACKGROUND
The 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration was held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium. The event commemorated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by bringing together community members for an afternoon of reflection, inspiration, and celebration centered on this year's theme, "Diversity Unites Us, Love Leads Us, and Action Propels Us."
The celebration featured keynote remarks, live musical performances, community engagement opportunities, and a non-perishable food drive benefiting the Grace Lutheran Food Pantry. The event was planned collaboratively by the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and Juneteenth Celebration Advisory Committee and the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department.
DISCUSSION
The 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration was held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and provide the community with an opportunity to reflect on his enduring message of unity, service, and equality. Planned in collaboration with the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and Juneteenth Celebration Advisory Committee and Parks, Recreation and Community Events, the event brought together residents, community leaders, students, and local organizations to honor Dr. King's contributions through music, education, and civic engagement.
The program featured keynote remarks by Dr. Scot Brown, musical performances by MAJOR., Roots and Thunder, DJ Caleb Crump, and the Culver City Unified School District Student Choir, along with community recognition and opportunities for public participation. The event also included a non-perishable food drive benefiting the Grace Lutheran Food Pantry, providing attendees with an opportunity to support local families while commemorating the holiday.
Event Highlights
• Approximately 250 community members attended the celebration.
• The program featured a keynote speaker, nationally recognized performers, and local student musicians.
• The celebration served as the setting for the production of Culver City Remembers Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a video created by Artist Laureate Victoria Marks and filmmaker Ann Kaneko documenting community reflections on Dr. King's legacy and the City's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.
Budget Summary
The total expenses for the 2026 Martin Luther King Jr Celebration were $19,439.17, with $27,000.00 allocated from City funding. The resulting $7560.83 surplus was due to not being able to secure a videographer for the event. This surplus was used for Juneteenth expenses such as videographer, photobooth and printing.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 for the Park, Recreation and Community Services Division includes provisions for Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration of $27,000.00 from account 10130280 (Community Events & Excursions).
ATTACHMENTS
None
MOTION
That the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and Juneteenth Celebration Advisory Committee
Receive and file the report.
