RAINBOW PUSH COALITION AND PUSH FOR EXCELLENCE ANNOUNCE 37th ANNUAL DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WEEKEND PROGRAM

RAINBOW PUSH COALITION AND PUSH FOR EXCELLENCE ANNOUNCE 37th ANNUAL DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WEEKEND PROGRAM

Special Guests Include Journalist Don Lemon and the World-Renowned Leo High School Choir

CHICAGO -– The Rainbow Push Coalition (PUSH) and PUSH for Excellence announced a series of events as part of its annual celebration to commemorate civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., taking place January 17 - 19 in Chicago. This year, PUSH will explore the theme “the Beloved Community,” a phrase coined by Dr. King to symbolize his vision for a world free of injustice, poverty and violence. To reflect on Dr. King’s concept of the Beloved Community, PUSH will host a day of service and learning, an interfaith worship service and a breakfast. Special guests will include journalist Don Lemon, who will headline the annual breakfast, and the world-renowned Leo High School Boys’ Choir.

“PUSH’s annual celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a time for us to commemorate Dr. King’s transformative work and expand on his ideas for a more equitable future,” said Yusef Jackson, COO of PUSH. “As we explore Dr. King’s vision of a Beloved Community in words and in action, we will demonstrate not only the importance of a just world but our ability to collectively build it.”

"This year’s Dr. King weekend is designed to expose the current generation of emerging leaders to the work of Dr. King, the vision of Rev. Jesse Jackson and the challenges they face in building a future where every child has access to a high quality public education, health care, and economic opportunity,” said Rev. Dr. Janette C. Wilson, Esq., Senior Advisor to Rev. Jackson and National Executive Director of PUSH for Excellence. “The Beloved Community exists whenever everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve without barriers based on class, economic status, gender or race. We will highlight the prevailing issues with proposed policy changes, prophetic challenges by faith and highlight the examples of those who have made progress in business, education, addressing poverty and violence."

Saturday, January 17, 2026

Day of Service and Learning

Time: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Location: PUSH HQ (930 E. 50th St., Chicago, IL)

Event Type: Free/Open to all, Registration required

The Dream Lives On: Building the Beloved Community Today

A reflection and call to action for the generation shaping tomorrow.

Time: 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Location: Downtown Chicago location to be announced

Event Type: Ticketed

Sunday, January 18, 2026

One Spirit, One Dream: An Interfaith Worship Service

Time: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Location: New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church (754 E. 77th St., Chicago, IL)

Event Type: Free/Open to all, Registration required

Monday, January 19, 2026

Dr. King Annual Breakfast

Time: 8 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Location: Fairmont Chicago (200 N. Columbus Dr., Chicago, IL)

Event Type: Ticketed

For more information and to register for attendance, visit www.rainbowpush.org/2026_mlk.

Founded by Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., the Rainbow PUSH Coalition is a multi-racial, multi-issue, progressive, international membership organization fighting for social change. Yusef D. Jackson, the Chief Operating Officer, is now leading the organization's long-standing mission to protect, defend, and gain civil rights by leveling economic and educational opportunities and ensuring social justice and peace.


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