A standing-room-only congregation filled Mt. Zion CME Church on Sunday, January 18, as the MLK Celebration Committee and Mt. Zion CME Church hosted the 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Service, part of Minden’s 39th annual celebration held under the theme “Lift every voice. Live every dream.”
The service included songs, scripture readings, a mayoral proclamation, youth and leadership awards, Trailblazer Awards and a message from guest speaker Dr. LaKishia Grider. Every seat in the church was filled as residents gathered to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King.
“Today we come together as a reflection, remembrance, and renewed commitment,” Felica Harris said at the opening of the service. “Today we gather not only to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. but to recommit ourselves to the values he so courageously lived and proclaimed: justice, equality, compassion, service, and non-violence. Everybody can be great because everybody can serve, and it is in that spirit of service and humanity that we gather here today.”
Minden Mayor Nick Cox read a proclamation declaring January 19, 2026, as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Minden. “To honor this important day, on behalf of the City of Minden, I have a proclamation,” Cox said. “Dr. Martin Luther King recognized the great injustice of segregation and discrimination and made it his life’s purpose and toil to right those wrongs in favor of justice, freedom, equality, fairness, and reconciliation.” Cox said the city should use the occasion to reflect on Dr. King’s message of justice and equality for all people and the spirit of one America.
Trailblazer Awards were presented to community leaders recognized for blazing a path for younger generations, overcoming personal challenges and becoming successful leaders within the community. Awards were presented to Elena Black, Stepfret Williams, Sr., and Johnnye Kennon. (Williams and Kennon were unable to attend and are not pictured.)
Leadership Awards were presented to Summer Willis of Minden High School and Ivion Harris of North Webster High School.
Poster contest winners were recognized across grade divisions. In kindergarten through first grade, Envy Batton of Phillips Elementary earned first place. Erin Jae Moore of J.L. Jones Elementary placed first in the second- and third-grade division. In fourth and fifth grades, Zaraya Page earned first place and Makailee Gilbert placed second, both from Richardson. Jacaelyn Prejean won first place in the sixth- through eighth-grade division, followed by Elizabeth Killian in second place. In the ninth- through 12th-grade division, Maria Jimenez earned first place, Rebecca Downs placed second and Petra Jovanovic placed third.
Essay contest winners included Sabrina Jones, Molly Boyce and Rieanne Jones at the elementary level; Kaleb Stephens and Khloe Butler at the middle school level; and Kaylee Johnson, Shadavion Martin and Addison Walker at the high school level.
The commemorative service served as a central event of the weekend-long observance, bringing together the community to recognize youth achievement, honor local leaders and reaffirm the values of service, unity and equality central to Dr. King’s legacy.