In January 2023, the City of Dallas will host its 41st annual celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a weeks’ worth of events, culminating with our Annual Scholarship & Awards Gala, featuring keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd.
The Gala, renamed in 2019 to the MLK Scholarship & Awards Gala, is a longstanding event of the celebration and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Our goal for the Scholarship & Awards Gala is to support the educational aspirations of City of Dallas youth through scholarships and to recognize City of Dallas residents that have made invaluable contributions to their communities reflecting the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The purpose and goal of the awards is to acknowledge organizations that echo the City of Dallas’ core values of Empathy, Ethics, Equity, & Excellence as a reflection of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in their service to the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center.
About the Gala
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship & Awards Gala will take place January 14, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency Dallas, located at 300 Reunion Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207.
Keynote Speaker
Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Elizabeth Boyd is an engineer and is described as a dynamic and relevant leader, a prolific motivational speaker, a powerful preacher and a prominent advocate for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. Boyd is a native of Montgomery, Alabama and received a full scholarship to attend Alabama State University where she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics with a double minor in physics and music.
Click here to read Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Elizabeth Boyd’s bio.
Mistress of Ceremony
Tashara Parker is a traffic reporter and anchor featured on WFAA’s Daybreak. She joined the Dallas, Texas station in 2019. For over seven years, Tashara Parker has commanded the screen, covering the region’s most prominent news stories in a way that is effective, unique and undeniably her own. She is currently an anchor and reporter at WFAA News 8 in Dallas, Texas where she covers traffic, breaking news and inspirational stories throughout the week.
Click here to read Tashara Parker’s bio.
Special guests
Special guests include:
- Booker T. Washington Choir
- Jess Garland, Harpist
- Marcia Jones, Soloist, accompanied by Elbert Taylor, Keyboardist
- Turtle Creek Chorale
Tickets
Tickets are $150. Tables are $1,500.
Purchase your tickets via Eventbrite at bit.ly/CODMLKGala.
Sponsorship
Sponsorship funding will support the implementation of community events and the development of a scholarship fund, with scholarships to be presented at the Gala. Sponsorship benefits and levels are outlined in the sponsorship packet below.
Sponsorship Levels:
- Presenting: $15,000
- Platinum: $10,000
- Gold: $5,000
- Silver: $2,500
- Bronze: $1,000
- Supporter: $250
- Additional Opportunities/In-Kind Donations
If you have any questions about sponsorship, please contact Jamel Slaughter, Ph.D., Program Administrator for the Office of Community Care, at (214) 671-5117 or via email at jamel.slaughter@dallascityhall.com.
Donate
Funding donated to this page will support the 41st annual celebration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with more than a weeks’ worth of events focused on equity, diversity, and opportunity. Donated funds will enable the City to provide the week’s events to the public free of charge, except for the Scholarship Gala, which requires a ticket purchase. Beyond providing support to the events of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Week, donations will also support the development of the City of Dallas’ new Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Fund. Scholarships will be presented at the 41st annual gala event.
To make a donation, contact 214-670-8418 or visit bit.ly/DonateDallasMLK2023.
To learn more about programs and activities scheduled during MLK Celebration Week, please visit dallasmlkcenter.com/mlk-celebration-week.
Learn more about the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Essay Contest.
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