Historical review

Year: About the Celebration:

1983  Council for a Greater Pomona held the 1st MLK Celebration with keynote speaker, 

Dr. Charlie Knight Superintendent of Lynwood School District. 

1984 The Second Celebration was held.

1985  Keynote Speaker, Dr. Wymood Carson, professor.

1986  The fourth celebration was held.

1987  Keynote speaker Reverend Chuck Singleton from Loveland Church in Fontana.

1988  Keynote speaker Don Jackson, Hawthorne Police Officer.

1989  Keynote speaker Reverend David Hurst

1990  Collaborative event with the Safe in My Brother's Arms Training Corps (SIMBA).

1991 The Pomona Valley Human Relations Council collaborated with services at St. Joseph Catholic Church (Pomona) and the Community Center (San Dimas)

1992 10th Anniversary Keynote speaker Rev. Chuck Singleton of Loveland Church in Rancho Cucamonga hosted by the Pomona Valley Human Relations Council

1993  Theme "Learning A New: The Message of the Rev. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr." with keynote speaker Reverend

Chuck Singleton. This was the first year with the Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Awards were given and there were sponsorships.

1994  Theme "Living the Dream".

1995  Theme "Moving Towards the Dream: Youth Organizing for the Betterment of Community."

1996  Theme 'Building A Non-Violent Community" with keynote speaker Dr. Ivan Walks MD.

1997  Theme "Let Justice Roll Down...Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.", keynote speaker Dr. Karen Baker-Fletcher,Asst. Professor Theology & Culture at the Claremont School of Theology. 

1998  Theme "The Audacity to believe Fulfilling Basic Human Needs Through Economic Justice".

1999  Theme "A Vision of Humanity Enduing Toward A World of Peace & Harmony" with keynote speaker Reverend Eva Duncan, Sr. Pastor at Quinn AME Church in Jefferson City, Missouri.

2000  Theme "Building Bridges for a Culture of Peace" with keynote speaker Reverend Daniel F Romero of the Southern California/Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ.

2001 Theme "Renewing the Call for the New Millennium" Keynote speaker: Rev Lelani Kafela 

2002  20th Anniversary Theme "Move with Dignity & Discipline, Using Only the Weapon of Love" with keynote speaker Dominique DiPrima, Radio Talk Show Host for 100.3.

2003  Theme "Shaping the Dream: A Time for Vigorous & Positive Action" with keynote speaker Rev. Lewis Young, Sr. Pastor at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.

2004  Theme "Anybody Can Serve" with keynote speaker, Rev. Larold (Larr•) Schulz, from Pilgrim Place Resident, who was a former classmate of Martin Luther King, Jr.

2005  Theme "Now is the Time" with keynote speaker Reverend William Tyler from Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Pomona.

2006  "Revitalizing the Spirit" with speaker Shelia Spencer, writer, poet, elementary School teacher in LA Unified School District.

2007  25th Anniversary keynote speaker Dr. Renford Reese, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of Colorful Flags Program at Cal Poly Pomona.

2008  Theme "Where Do We Go From Here?" with keynote speaker Pastor Dwight Peace from

South Hills Presbyterian Church in Pomona.

2009  Theme "Youth...Investing in our Future" with keynote speaker Ariel Sweet, student at the University of California, Berkeley.

2010  Theme "One Voice, One Dream...Honoring Grassroots Visionaries" with keynote speaker Dr. Stephen Morgan, President, University of La Verne.

2011  Theme "Racism, the Media, and the 21st Century" with keynote speaker Michael AjakweJr., Creator-Writer -Director-Producer.

2012  30th Anniversary Theme "Keeping the Dream Alive" with keynote speaker Reverend Charles Lee-Johnson. 

2013  Theme "Preserving His Dream; Past, Present and Future" with keynote speaker Dr. Jose Calderon-Emeritus, Professor in Sociology and Chicano Studies at Pitzer College.

2014  Theme "Remembering the Man Reviving the Dream. Keynote speaker Dr. Edward Bush, Vice President of student services at Riverside City College.

2015  Theme "Celebrating Freedom, Humanity, & Unity. Keynote Speaker Rosemary Radford Ruether, Professor Pomona College

2016  Theme" Courage: The Pathway to Justice", Keynote Speaker, Dr. Devorah Lieberman President University of La Verne

2017  Theme " Continuing to Strive for Equality, Then and Now", Keynote Speaker, Farrell J. Chiles, Author and Historian

2018  Theme ' Difficult Times Makes Us a Stronger Community", Keynote Speaker, Dr. Soraya M. Coley, President California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 

2019 Theme “Out of the Mountain of Despair, There is a Stone of Hope” Keynote Speaker, Ron Bolding, Former CEO & President of Inter Valley Health Plan

2020 Theme: “The Reverend Dr. King’s 20/20 Vision” Keynote Speaker: Dr. Lily Gossage, Cal Poly Pomona

2021 Theme: "Injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere" Keynote Speaker: Kianna Webb, Entrepreneur & CEO Webb Family Entreprises

2022 40th Anniversary Theme: We Shall Overcome: "True Peace is not merely the absence of tensions: it's the presence of justice." Keynote Speakers: Khaliff & Victoria Rasshan - Founders & Curators of The African American Museum of Beginnings, Pomona, CA

2023 Theme: Infinite Hope: "If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward."  Keynote Speaker Rev Tommy Morrow, Pastor, Author and founder of Inland Valley News