01/16/2026
King County celebrated the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a Thursday event at Seattle University, with new Companis partner agency BlackPast.org honored with the Larry Gossett Service Award for 2026. The event featured new King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, Councilmembers Rhonda Lewis (the first Black woman to serve on the County Council), Council President Sarah Perry and more.
Executive Zahilay presented the BlackPast.org's director LaNesha DeBardelaben with the Gossett Award. Blackpast.org is the largest online encyclopedia on African American and Global African history on the Internet. It was founded in Seattle by esteemed academic and historian Dr. Quintard Taylor, who died in September last year.
MLK Day events in Seattle include (see accompany poster) those organized by the Seattle MLK, Jr. Organizing Coalition, and events in Everett by the Snohomish County Black Heritage Committee. Those include Sunday, January 18th at 4:00 PM - Worship Experience at First Presbyterian Church, Everett, and
Monday, January 19th at 11:00 AM - Community March beginning at Everett Memorial Stadium, followed by a Rally at the VOAWW Carl Gipson Center, Everett.
We hope you'll make your voice and your heart heard in community.