Nashville MLK Celebrations begin January 16 and 17

The 2025 MLK Day Labor & Human Rights Breakfast will be held on January 17, featuring Rep. Harold Love Jr. as keynote speaker. I

Martin Luther King, Jr.

The 2025 MLK Day Labor & Human Rights Breakfast is hosted by the IMF and organized by the the Central Labor Council of Nashville & Middle TN and the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. The Labor & Human Rights Breakfast will take place Friday, January 17 at the Scarritt Bennett Center, 1027 18th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212. Doors open at 7:30am with the event program taking place from 8:00am – 10:00am CST.

The 2025 Labor & Human Rights Breakfast will feature Keynote Speaker, Rep. Harold Love Jr. Born in Nashville, Rep. Love has dedicated his life to uplifting his community including serving on the Tennessee House of Representatives for the 58th District, and as Pastor of Lee Chapel A.M.E. Church, and serving on several boards and organziations including the 33 Degree Masons, the NAACP, and the18th Ave. Family Encrichment Center, as well as being a stalwart champion for his alma mater, Tennessee State University.  

State Rep. Rev. Dr. Harold M. Love Jr., is the 2025 MLK Labor & Human Rights Breakfast Keynote Speaker.

The Breakfast will also feature the inaugural presentation of the William “Bill” Lucy Award. The award is named after the late Bill Lucy, labor leader and civil rights icon, who founded the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, organized the Memphis Sanitiation Worker’s Strike, and led the Free South Africa anti-apartheid movement in the United States. The William “Bill” Lucy Award will honor an individual who has made significant contributions to economic and social justice in Tennessee.

The Labor & Human Rights Breakfast honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as labor & human rights advocate and discusses the intersection of labor, faith and civil rights. Previous featured speakers of the breakfast include Andrew Young, Gloria Sweet-Love, and Rev. Darryl G. Gray.

The admission price for the breakfast is only $15.00.

A Night to Remember, A Future to Build – 2025 MLK Day Gala happens the night before. 

Join the IMF for the 2025 MLK Day Gala, an unforgettable evening dedicated to celebrating Dr. King’s legacy while investing in the future of social justice advocacy. The Gala is Thursday, January 16, 2025, from 6:00pm – 10:00pm, at The Parthenon, 2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203.

This elegant black-tie event benefits the Interdenominational Ministers’ Fellowship Community Fund Education Reserve, a vital initiative supporting students at Nashville’s prestigious HBCUs: Tennessee State University, Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, and American Baptist College. With your support, help empower the next generation of changemakers to advance equity and justice in their communities.

Tickets for the MLK Gala are $150, available now through Monday, January 13, 2025. Your ticket purchase isn’t just an invitation to an evening of inspiration and celebration—it’s an investment in a brighter future. Let’s honor Dr. King’s vision by empowering future leaders to make a difference. We can’t wait!

For more information,  and to register for these and other MLK events check out the website: mlkdaynashville.com.

Metro report highlights affordability gap for African Americans in Nashville

A new Metro Social Services report finds African Americans in Nashville face higher poverty, housing cost burdens, and shorter life expectancy despite the city’s strong

Trump’s mail-in voting executive order faces legal challenges

Civil rights groups, state leaders, and attorneys general are suing to block Trump’s mail-in voting executive order, arguing it threatens voter access and state election

Black Press continues legacy of advocacy and truth-telling as it nears 200 years

As the Black Press nears 200 years, Black-owned newspapers still champion truth-telling, advocacy, and community storytelling from Freedom’s Journal to today’s Black Press Sunday.

“Earthrise,” “Earth Day” and “Earthset”

From Apollo 8’s iconic “Earthrise” to Artemis II’s new “Earthset,” this Earth Day reflections piece links space images, climate change, and Nashville Earth Day 2026.

What to do when inheriting a house that is paid off

Inheriting a house that is paid off gives you instant equity, but your next steps—legal transfer, repairs, and whether to sell, keep, or rent—determine its