Boulder City MLK Legacy Celebration
March 6, 2026

CELEBRATING MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.’s  LIFE & LEGACY

The program featured faith-based and local leaders, youth speakers, and individuals who 

Boulder Chamber of Commerce – 2440 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302

Saturday, January 24, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

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The Boulder community gathered to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event centered on the relevance of Dr. King’s messages of nonviolence, social equity, and of championing diversity, peace, justice, and love. During these challenging times, Dr. King’s teachings continue to provide powerful guidance on how communities can overcome division and work cooperatively together. The event was well organized and well attended, with approximately 70 audience members representing Boulder and the surrounding area.


Community Participation

Over seventy attendees participated, including a Boulder County Disabilities Program Navigator, a representative from the Community Services Administration of Boulder County, and one from Workforce Boulder County. On January 18, 2026, during a MLK event at the Boulder Jewish Community Center, our event was promoted.

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Program Highlights

shared messages of unity, resilience, and hope. The audience watched a ten-minute video of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech. Our guest speaker reminded us all of the absolute power of forgiveness through God’s generous and loving grace.

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Presentation: Cultivating an Unbroken Spirit

Mike Sales, paralyzed by an ultralight aircraft accident twelve years ago, shared his powerful life journey story. Despite facing insurmountable mental and physical rehabilitation odds, his story reflected resilience, faith, forgiveness, and perseverance, keeping with the spirit of Dr. King’s seminal teachings, and that of holy scripture. Mike encouraged the audience to build, through faith, inner strength and hope, especially considering the heated US socio-political climate.

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Grace Lokulang emphasized Martin Luther King Jr.’s support of civil rights, highlighting the importance of justice, equality, and nonviolence in advancing social change. She noted that Dr. King’s vision continues to guide communities in advocating for human dignity, unity, and equal opportunity. Such remembrance encourages leaders and community members to work together to build a more just and inclusive society, the singular objective of Phase II of this project.

 Community Impact and Partnership

The event emphasized peaceful coexistence and standing together in shared love to build a stronger, more united community. The audience expressed appreciation for our continued partnership and collaboration with the City of Boulder’s Human Relations Department and the Arts and Culture Commission. Everybody especially commented of the yummy food.

 

Ilalle Hill Organization

Together, partners in attendance are mutually committed to shared work to support underrepresented communities in Boulder and surrounding cities. Phase II provides for such community collaboration

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Boulder County Disability Services and Boulder Workforce representatives spoke.

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Mike B. Sales chats with ‘Sage.’


Community Action Theme

The ‘celebrating diversity and championing equity’ audience participation was quite lively, demonstrating strong community engagement and a shared commitment to the themes of inclusion and unity. The audience enjoyed African cultural cuisine, including South Sudanese, Sudanese, East African, and Mediterranean foods, refreshments, tea, and coffee service.

Ella and Isabella


Youth speakers


“My name is Ella and I’m in Grade 5. Isabela is in Grade 4. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. talked about his dream of a world where everyone is treated equally. He believed people should be judged by who they are, not by their skin color. He also fought for the right to vote so everyone could have a voice. His speech teaches us to stand up for fairness and kindness.”

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Promotion

At the Boulder Jewish Community Center, we celebrated the enduring life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during shared with allies, county-wide commemorations. Dr. King's message highlights the timeless principles of nonviolence, freedom, peace, justice, and love. During these complex times, his vision provides a vital roadmap for our community to move past division and work together toward the goal of a truly blessed and beloved community.

 

Phase Two of this endeavor includes a sustainability plan to keep the interactions going via a monthly Zoom session hosted by our Executive Director, Lojohomoi Lokonobei. The idea is to every month report on Ilalle Hill Organization objectives, and to provide a platform for local community organizers to meet and share ideas.

 

Conclusion

This free community educational event successfully honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy while strengthening community relationships and advancing equity, inclusion, and shared responsibility for building a better future. It is only the beginning of something great.

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION SUMMARY REPORT — JUNE 20, 2026

July 27, 2026
The Juneteenth celebration held at the Chamber of Commerce Boulder on June 20, 2026, was meaningful and open to the public event that brought together approximately 60 attendees, including children, families, friends, colleagues and community members. The gathering created a welcoming space for reflection, socialization, learning, celebration, while honoring the significance of Juneteenth day in American history. Frank DeDominicis opened remarks on the program by speaking about the history of Juneteenth and the purpose of the event. His remarks helped frame the celebration as both educational and commemorative, reminding attendees of the importance of recognizing Juneteenth as a symbol of freedom, justice, love, inclusion, togetherness, embracing one another and resilience. The event offered an opportunity for the community to come together in shared understanding and appreciation. One of the highlights of the celebration was the meal, which featured South Sudanese, East African, and Mediterranean cuisines prepared locally by a wonderful South Sudanese women’s group. The food was enjoyed by all with gratitude for the event and created a warm setting for connection and conversation. Children also added to the festive atmosphere by gathering around a whiteboard to draw with washable markers, bringing energy and joy to the event. Boulder City Mayor Aaron Burk shared positive remarks and encouraged community leaders to embrace one another in recognition of Juneteenth as a foundation of the community. He emphasized the importance of unity, respect, and togetherness across differences. Guests spent time socializing, sharing stories, and enjoying one another’s company in an atmosphere filled with high energy, laughter, and community spirit. We are grateful to the City of Boulder for providing this opportunity for the community to come together in celebration.

WOMEN SEEDS OF HOPE - KAKUMA - KALOBEYEI SETTLEMENT

By Lojohomoi Lorensio • July 20, 2026
During my recent Africa visit, I witnessed the resilience of farming women, seeds of hope in Kakuma Kalobeyei, an integrated settlement with an arid environment, scorching heat, water shortages, and a limited food to supply the entire refugee settlement population. The women, Seeds of Hope in Kakuma- Kalobeyei settlement, decided to organize themselves to till the ground with and irrigate it despite limited water sources. The little bit of rainwater was sufficient to grow vegetables to feed their families. Because of the situation of limited water, no fencing, no tools, and no drought-resistant seeds to improve and expand community gardens, Ilalle Hill Organization is reaching out to the friends, colleagues, and well-wishers across the globe on behalf of the women of the Seeds of Hope. Kakuma Kalobeyei settlement needs support and cash donations to help expand, improve, and grow more food to feed their families and others around the villages of Kalobyei settlement. Hunger and a massive nutrition crisis is hitting the Kakuma refugees hard. The Ilalle Hill Organization team is available to answer questions about Womens’ Seeds of Hope in Kalobeyei Kakuma refugee camp. Following the 2025 USAID funding cutoff, the lives of refugees in Kakuma have experienced severe disruptions. The rationing system categorizes families into four distinct groups: Category 1 receives half rations contingent on family size. Category 2 receives a quarter of the half rations. Category 3 receives a minimal allocation. Category 4 receives no food assistance.