On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 20, 2025, following the city’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Flag Raising Celebration and NAACP Officer Installation ceremony at City Hall, The MLK Day Collaborative held their 10th annual citywide community event celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who brought hope and healing to the world.
The 10th Annual Dr. King Day Celebration, a free community event, took place on Monday afternoon at the MassMutual Center. Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Governor Maura Healey, Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia, Springfield City Councilors Tracye Whitfield, Sean Curran, Jose Delgado, and Lavar Click-Bruce, State Representatives Bud Williams, Orlando Ramos, and Carlos Gonzalez, Police Superintendent Larry Akers, Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan, Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Sonia Dinnall, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Judi Crowell, Chief of Staff Bill Baker, Mayoral Aide Shenell Ford, Jesse Lederman representing US Senator Ed Markey, Springfield College President Marybeth Cooper, President & CEO, Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services Shannon M. Rudder, NAACP President Bishop Talbert Swan, and many state and city officials, and members of the community joined to celebrate with the MLK Day Collaborative team.
The MLK Day 2025 event embraced the theme “Pursue Justice. Persist in Peace.” The community welcome began with artistic expressions, exhibitions, and vendors in the lobby entrance. Then the Collaborative led a purpose driven program where nearly 1,000 youth and supporting adult participants joined in manifesting the theme through inspiring spoken word, dance & music presentations featuring MLK Charter School of Excellence, Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services’ Youth & Clemente Program, Community Music School of Springfield’s Sonido Musica, String City, African Drumming, Springfield CommUnity Chorale, and Springfield Public Schools students.
Thank you to the MLK Day 2025 Collaborative for hosting another successful celebration!
MLK Day 2025 Collaborative:
Shannon M. Rudder, President & CEO, Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services
Vanessa Ford, CMSS Faculty and Trust Transfer Program Director
Benjamin Smith, CEO of D.R.E.A.M. Studios
Eileen McCaffery, Executive Director, Community Music School of Springfield
Calvin Hill, Vice President, Inclusion & Community Engagement, Springfield College
Waleska Lugo-DeJesús, CEO, Inclusive Strategies
Andrew Cade, Senior Vice President, Urban League of Springfield
Azell Cavaan, Chief Communications Officer, Springfield Public Schools
Jose Escribano, Chief of Family and Community Engagement, Springfield Public Schools
Karen Finn, Executive Director, Springfield Cultural Partnership
