SF’s MLK Day 2024 Festivals & Marches (Jan. 9-15)

January 09, 12:30pm
Old St. Mary’s Cathedral, San Francisco

The NorcalMLK Foundation is proud to announce an inspiring partnership with Noontime Concerts (NTC), aligning our shared values of social justice and the transformative power of the arts.

The concerts will launch and conclude the MLK Celebration Week, with a compelling series of noontime concerts dedicated to honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Famed pianist Carl Blake will be the program director.

This event is free and open to the public.

2024 KING & FAITH SERIES
January 10-15, 2024
Various Locations

2024 represents our ninth annual King & Faith series that presents contemporary contemplation of Dr. King, his message, and his legacy. The public programs are scheduled to begin on January 10 and are free and open to the public. Programs include:

• Jan. 10 – THE 2024 KING & FAITH SYMPOSIUM
• Jan. 12 – THE MLK2024 CELEBRATION CONCERT
• Jan. 14 – THE 2024 HOWARD THURMAN HOMILY
• Jan. 14 – THE 2024 MLK SERMON AT GRACE CATHEDRAL
• Jan. 14 – THE 2024 MLK ADDRESS AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY
• Jan. 14 – THE 2024 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. INTERFAITH EVENSONG
• Jan. 14 – THE 2024 KING AND FAITH FORUM
• Jan. 15 – THE MLK2024 LABOR & COMMUNITY BREAKFAST ADDRESS
• Jan. 15 – THE MLK2024 MARCH
• Jan. 15 – THE 2024 MLK INTERFAITH COMMEMORATION

2024 SIDGE SYMPOSIUM
January 11–12

The SIDGE Center focuses on investigating AI and human values as data points that may be analyzed, quantified, and offered as algorithmic variables used to improved equity and the performance of predictive models.

The SIDGE Symposium is a dynamic multi-day event hosted by the Center for Social Impact, Development, and Global Engagement (SIDGE Center) as part of the NorcalMLK Foundation’s commitment to advancing social justice and equity through innovative means. This symposium serves as a nexus where AI, data science, ethics, and social impact intersect. The programs include:

• 2024 SIDGE FIRESIDE CHAT AND RECEPTION
• 2024 SIDGE MORNING PANEL – Technology and Climate Impacts
• 2024 SIDGE AFTERNOON PANEL – Connecting Public Interest Technology to Civic Engagement
• 2024 SIDGE AI PANEL

The SIDGE Symposium is a partnership of the NorcalMLK Foundation and the Public Interest Technology University Network of New America.

MLK2024 CELEBRATION CONCERT
January 12, 6:30pm
Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

The MLK Celebration of Freedom, Justice, and Beloved Community will be held live at the City’s storied War Memorial Herbst Theatre.

Grammy Award winning recording artist Lalah Hathaway headlines the program, along with spoken word vocalist Aisha Fukushima, Robin J. Williams & Peace Gospel Choir, Grammy nominated artists Prentice Powell & Shawn William and much more.

This event requires paid entry. Purchase tickets at cityboxoffice.com.

BLACK & BROWN COMIX ARTS FESTIVAL
January 13–15

The 2024 Black & Brown Comix Arts Festival (BCAF2023) marks the tenth year of the nationally awarded comic book event highlighting artists and creators of color.This year we are inaugurating the BCAF Cosplay Soirée, our new cosplay celebration on Saturday, January 13.

• 2024 BCAF COSPLAY SOIRÉE
• 2024 BCAF SUNDAY CONVERSATIONS
• 2024 BCAF PARTY
• 2024 BCAF EXPO

BCAF is a partnership of the NorcalMLK Foundation, the San Francisco Public Library, and the Cartoon Art Museum.

MLK2024 LABOR & COMMUNITY BREAKFAST
January 15, 8:00am
San Francisco Marriott Marquis Ballroom, 780 Mission Street

The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Labor & Community Breakfast brings labor, government, and the community together to honor the legacy of the civil rights connection between labor, led by A. Philip Randolph, the African American community, and the poor.

The event features federal, state, and local leaders in government, musical talent of the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble, and the presentation of the NorcalMLK Foundation’s signal award, The Willie B Kennedy Civic Service Award to The Honorable Willie L. Brown, Jr., the past Mayor of San Francisco, and past speaker of the California State Assembly.

As the first event on MLK Day, the Labor & Community Breakfast launches a host of activities honoring King that occur at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Labor & Community Breakfast is a partnership between the NorcalMLK Foundation and the San Francisco Labor Council.

MLK2024 MARCH
SF Caltrain Station
January 15, 11:00am
4th Street@Townsend Street

Join thousands in honoring the Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery, Alabama marches and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by experiencing the MLK2024 commemorative march/parade from San Francisco’s Caltrain Station to Yerba Buena Gardens. The march begins at 11:00am on Monday, January 15, and participants are encouraged to arrive early. The 1.5 mile journey crosses the Lefty O’Doul Bridge and stops at Willie Mays Plaza at AT&T Park to commemorate the crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, a symbol of violence and victory in the civil rights movement.

Groups can register and march together at the MLK2024 March Eventbrite page.

At the conclusion of the march, in partnership with the San Francisco Interfaith Council, an interfaith commemoration will bring together the region’s faith leaders to commemorate the vision of Dr. King and to lead participants in a spiritual reflection of his message.

MLK2024 CELEBRATION PROGRAM
January 15, 1:00pm
Blue Shield of California Theater @ YBCA
700 Howard Street

The MLK2024 Celebration Program will feature performances and two historic events. The MLK2024 program will see an historic conversation with the Honorable Willie L. Brown, Jr, The NorcalMLK Foundation’s 2024 Willie B Kennedy Civic Service Awardee. The conversation will be the first ever public interview with Mayor Brown about his civil rights history.

We will also see our first ever AI Panel with three leaders in artificial intelligence, ethics, and data privacy. This event is also a culmination of the inaugural SIDGE Symposium.

MLK2024 MUSIC FESTIVAL
January 15, 1:00pm
Esplanade Stage at Yerba Buena Gardens

Enjoy the 14th Annual MLK Music Festival presented by Purple Cherry Productions and Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.

The MLK2024 Music Festival features award winning artists and hosts of the local hit show “I Remember That Song!” will bring Yerba Buena Gardens to life, while emceeing the performances.

MLK2024 HEALTH & WELLNESS FESTIVAL
JANUARY 15, 11:00am
Yerba Buena Gardens

The MLK2024 Health and Wellness Festival gathers the region’s health providers for a one-day event of free services and exciting activities during the MLK celebration.

MLK2024 LIBERATION FILM SCREENINGS
January 15, 12:00pm
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

The Liberation Film Festival (LFF) are dedicated to bringing short-format cinema and human-interest documentaries to the public through innovative programs designed to engage new and diverse audiences. 2024 marks the fourteenth annual program and will feature human interest and civil rights documentaries and, for the first time, animated shows. A partnership with California Newsreel, the screenings are free and open to the public with limited theater seating on a first-come, first-served, basis.

LFF scheduled screenings will be presented in the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Screening Room.

MLK2024 COMMEMORATIVE TRANSIT
January 15

NorcalMLK partners with local and regional transit agencies to provide commemorative travel to and from our events on the MLK federal holiday. The NorcalMLK Transit Program returns with the MLK2024 NorcalMLK Caltrain Celebration Train. Reservations will be available soon at your tickets today at the MLK2024 Caltrain Celebration Train site.

Stay tuned for updates on more transit partnership.

MLK VOLUNTEERING

Sign up to serve through NorcalMLK.

NorcalMLK has volunteer opportunities throughout the year, and we’re a great place for service. Let us know your areas of focus, availability and any other information you wish to provide, and we will keep you informed of the NorcalMLK volunteer opportunities that fit your criteria.