‘Freedom isn’t automatic’: Elgin to honor MLK’s legacy with annual prayer breakfast
For the 41st year, community members in Elgin will meet to honor the spirit and memory of Martin Luther King Jr. with their annual prayer breakfast.
The event, presented by Elgin’s Human Relations Commission’s MLK Celebration Committee, will be held on Saturday, Jan. 17, at Elgin Community College.
The theme for the 2026 program, “As You Lift Every Voice, Let Freedom Ring,” is based on a combination of two iconic American works: James Weldon Johnson's hymn, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
Committee chair Janice Hare, whose involvement in the event dates back about 20 years, said she takes the theme as a call for unity and a call to remember that everyone’s voice is important.
“Freedom grows when people refuse to be silent, stay hopeful together and keep pushing for justice, even when it’s hard,” she said. “Silence helps injustice last, so speaking up is essential.”
Tickets for the breakfast are $30, with some still available at givebutter.com/J3Hrzc.
The program will include music and speakers, including a keynote address from Rev. Markinna Price of Second Baptist Church.
The breakfast will honor Danise Habun, a longtime volunteer who died in 2025.
The breakfast is the highlight of a month of activities, including a community event from 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Hemmens Cultural Center. That event will include a community choir, dance, poetry and the announcement of the annual scholarship winners.
The annual food drive, which has collected hundreds of tons of food for local pantries in the past dozen years, will hold a pickup event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 18 at Food for Greater Elgin. Volunteers will be available to assist with unloading.
The annual Martin L. King Jr. youth event will take place Jan. 19, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at The Centre of Elgin. The program for middle and high school students includes workshops on what it means to dream and the importance of acceptance.
A panel series presented in partnership with the Gail Borden Library takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays Jan. 14, 21, 28, and Feb. 4. Each week highlights a different topic, including King’s role as a theologian, civil rights leader and his views and teachings on non-violence and poverty.
Hare said that the volunteer organizers of the event stay with it every year because King’s desire to “let freedom ring” is an ongoing effort.
“Freedom isn’t automatic, it’s something you work toward continuously,” she said. “And it isn’t just for a few leaders or loud figures; it requires participation from ordinary people.”